Edo school remodelling earns Governor Monday Okpebholo’s praise as the Nigerian Army hands over upgraded schools in Benin City
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 significant contribution to education and community development in the state.
Okpebholo gave the commendation on Friday, November 6, 2026, through his deputy, Dennis Idahosa, during the inauguration and handover of the upgraded schools in Uzebu and Oliha quarters of Benin City.
According to a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Friday Aghedo, the project was commissioned by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Waidi Shaibu, under the Nigerian Army’s Special Intervention Civil-Military Cooperation initiative.
The governor described the Army as a valuable development partner, noting that its intervention would provide pupils and students with a more conducive environment for learning.
“The Nigerian Army is a worthy development partner and an institution whose commitment to community development deserves emulation,” he said.
Okpebholo expressed appreciation to the military for selecting the schools and their host communities for the project, adding that improving educational infrastructure required cooperation between government and other stakeholders.
He also called on wealthy individuals, corporate organisations and Edo indigenes to support community development through investments that complement government efforts.
The governor said building a prosperous state required collective responsibility and urged stakeholders to support his administration’s SHINE Agenda.
Speaking at the ceremony, Shaibu said the intervention was designed to improve educational facilities while strengthening relations between the military and civilian communities.
He urged the Edo State Government, school authorities and host communities to take ownership of the upgraded facilities and ensure their proper maintenance for the benefit of present and future students.
The Commissioner for Education, Washington Osifo, also praised the Nigerian Army, describing the project as an important contribution to the state’s education sector.
Osifo disclosed that the Okpebholo administration had constructed and renovated more than 100 schools since taking office.
He added that the government had provided thousands of classrooms, purchased more than 5,000 students’ chairs and recruited over 5,000 teachers as part of efforts to improve public education.
The commissioner further announced that the state would begin recruiting an additional 3,000 teachers in the coming weeks to address manpower needs in public schools.
On practical science education, Osifo said the government had procured and distributed more than 100 mobile science laboratories, each equipped with at least 200 scientific apparatus.
He disclosed that plans were also underway to procure two additional batches of 100 laboratories to expand access to practical science learning across public schools.
The school remodelling project was facilitated by Major-General Thompson Ugiagbe under the Army’s Civil-Military Cooperation initiative, which promotes community development through targeted interventions.
Beyond improving school infrastructure, the initiative is intended to build public trust, encourage partnerships between institutions and strengthen relationships between the military and civilian populations.
The handover highlights the role of partnerships in addressing infrastructure gaps in public education, while the state government’s announced recruitment and laboratory plans point to further efforts to improve teaching capacity and learning conditions.
