Okpebholo’s Education Reforms Rebuilding Edo’s Future, Says Haruna Braimoh
Benin City — The Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor on Public Affairs and Media, Hon. Haruna Braimoh, has described Governor Monday Okpebholo as an education-focused leader whose administration is laying a solid foundation for the future of Edo State through sustained investments and far-reaching reforms across the education sector.
Braimoh, in a statement, said education remains the most critical investment for sustainable development, noting that Governor Okpebholo has placed the sector at the centre of his administration’s development agenda since assuming office. According to him, the Governor’s interventions have revitalised basic, secondary and tertiary education through improved funding, infrastructure renewal, teacher recruitment and student support initiatives.
Among the administration’s major achievements, Braimoh highlighted the permanent absorption of more than 5,000 Edo-STAR teachers into the Edo State Civil Service and the subsequent recruitment of an additional 1,000 teachers, bringing the total number of newly engaged teachers to over 6,000. He said the exercise has strengthened the public education system by ensuring that schools are staffed with qualified personnel while enhancing teachers’ welfare and job security.
He further disclosed that the state government has embarked on an extensive school infrastructure renewal programme involving the reconstruction and renovation of more than 100 public schools across Edo Central, Edo North and Edo South Senatorial Districts. The projects, he noted, are aimed at providing modern learning environments capable of supporting quality teaching and learning.
Braimoh also said Governor Okpebholo approved a ₦1 billion annual bursary scheme for indigent Edo students studying in tertiary institutions across Nigeria. According to him, the initiative complements the Federal Government’s National Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) by providing additional financial support to ensure that students are not denied higher education because of economic hardship.
The Governor’s commitment to strengthening tertiary education, he added, is reflected in the significant increase in monthly subventions to state-owned institutions. According to the statement, monthly funding for Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, rose from ₦41 million to ₦500 million, while Edo University, Uzairue, now receives ₦250 million monthly, compared to the previous ₦25 million. Edo State Polytechnic, Usen, and the Edo State College of Education, Igueben, which previously had no monthly allocations, now receive ₦100 million each every month to support academic excellence, institutional stability and infrastructure development.
Braimoh further stated that the administration has resolved long-standing administrative challenges that delayed the graduation and professional induction of many students. He said 128 medical students and 810 nursing graduates have now been cleared and inducted, while the digitisation of academic records has enhanced transparency and made certificate processing more efficient.
He noted that the state’s investment in education is already producing measurable outcomes, pointing to Edo State’s recent recognition by the National Examinations Council (NECO) with an Award of Excellence after emerging as the state with the third-highest percentage of candidates who obtained five credits and above in the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) since the examination body’s inception.
The Governor’s educational reforms have also attracted national recognition. Braimoh recalled that Governor Okpebholo was honoured with the New Telegraph Governor of the Year 2025 Award in Education in acknowledgement of his contributions to educational development and transformational leadership in the sector.
According to Braimoh, the achievements recorded by the administration demonstrate that Governor Okpebholo is delivering tangible results through strategic investments that are transforming lives and repositioning Edo State as a leading centre of educational excellence in Nigeria.
He reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to building a knowledge-driven society where every child has access to quality education, teachers are adequately supported, and tertiary institutions are empowered to produce graduates capable of competing globally.
“The future of Edo State is being rebuilt through education, and Governor Monday Okpebholo has continued to demonstrate an unwavering commitment to securing a brighter future for generations to come,” Braimoh stated.