Okpebholo Hails Army for Remodelling Edo Schools

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has commended the Nigerian Army for remodelling Ezomo Primary and Secondary Schools in Benin City, describing the intervention as a boost to education and community development.

The governor gave the commendation on Friday through his deputy, Dennis Idahosa, during the inauguration and handover of the renovated schools located in Uzebu and Oliha quarters of Benin City.

According to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Friday Aghedo, the project was executed under the Nigerian Army’s Special Intervention Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) initiative.

Representing the governor, Idahosa described the Army as a valuable development partner, noting that its intervention would provide pupils and students with a more conducive environment for learning.

He also urged individuals, corporate organisations and wealthy indigenes of Edo State to support government efforts by investing in community development.

The governor said building a prosperous Edo required collective responsibility and called on stakeholders to support his administration’s SHINE Agenda.

Earlier, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, said the intervention was designed to improve educational facilities and strengthen relationships between the military and civilian communities.

He urged the state government, host communities and school authorities to take responsibility for maintaining the facilities to ensure their continued use.

The Edo State Commissioner for Education, Washington Osifo, also praised the Army for its contribution to the state’s education sector.

Osifo said the Okpebholo administration had constructed and renovated more than 100 schools since assuming office. He added that the government had provided thousands of classrooms, procured more than 5,000 student chairs and recruited over 5,000 teachers.

The commissioner further disclosed that the state planned to recruit an additional 3,000 teachers in the coming weeks to strengthen staffing in public schools.

He also said more than 100 mobile science laboratories, each equipped with at least 200 scientific apparatus, had been procured and distributed to promote practical science education.

The project was facilitated by Major-General Thompson Ugiagbe under the Army’s CIMIC initiative, which promotes community development through targeted interventions.

The handover highlights cooperation between the military and state authorities in supporting public infrastructure beyond security operations.