Anebi
The Muslim community in Edo State has berated the Governor Monday Okpebholo for approving the returns of eight schools to missionary organizations.
DAILY POST reports that Okpebholo had on Monday, June 16, 2025 approved the returns of eight schools, all in the Edo North Senatorial District, to missionary organizations during a meeting with the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Auchi, Gabriel.G.Dunia at Government House, Benin City.
The affected schools are Our Lady of Fatima College, Auchi, St. Angela’s Grammar School, Uzairue, St. John Grammar School, Fugar and St. Peter’s Grammar School, Agenebode.
Others are St. James’s Grammar School, Afuze, St. Joseph College, Otuo, St. Mary Grammar School, Eme-Ora, and St. Aloysius Gonzaga Grammar School, Ososo.
The affected schools are in Akoko-Edo, Etsako West, Etsako Central, Etsako East, Owan East and Owan West, respectively.
Okpebholo at the meeting said a committee would be established to identify the specific schools that would be handed over to the missionaries.
He said that any of the affected schools currently undergoing renovation by the state government would remain under its supervision until completion.
Reacting to the development, the Muslim community described the governor’s action as undemocratic, saying it was not in the best interest of people of the state particularly the Muslims and Christians that are not of Catholic denomination.
They opined that Muslims and members of Pentecostal churches that form the bulk of major stakeholders in the education sector in the senatorial district were not put into consideration by the government in its decision making.
The Muslims urged the governor to tread with caution and engage in broad-based consultations involving all religious and community stakeholders before making such far-reaching decisions instead of being “dictatorial”.
The Muslim groups that spoke include the Edo Muslims for Equity and Good Governance, EMEGG and Nigeria Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, Edo State Council.
They appealed to the governor to rescind his decision, noting that the decision was not in the interest of the Muslim Students and teachers in the affected schools.
EMEGG, in a statement by its General Coordinator, Sirajudeen Muhammad and Secretary Abdullah Umar, opined that since the takeover of the affected schools by the government, they have been maintained and developed with public funds derived from taxes paid by all citizens of the state including Muslims and non-Muslims alike.
The group also averred that many of the lands in which the schools were built were generously donated by host communities, some of which are predominantly Muslims.
While acknowledging that some of the schools were initiated by missionaries, the group noted that it was unjust and inequitable to return them to private religious bodies without due consultation and consideration of the diverse religious makeup of the state.
“Your Excellency, we are particularly concerned about the fate of Muslim students and teachers in these schools. Will their rights to religious expression, education and employment be protected under the new management?
“Will the learning environment remain inclusive and non-discriminatory? These are critical questions that must not be ignored.
“We strongly advised that any decision to cede ownership or control of public schools to religious organizations should be suspended pending such consultations,” the group said.
EMEGG appealed to the state government to ensure that the interests of all citizens irrespective of religion faith are adequately safeguarded.
On his part, Alhaji Abdulaziz Igbinidu, the Edo State chairman, Nigeria Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, described the government action as anti-Muslim.
Igbinidu, who said the development is not in the interest of Muslims, noted that the interest of the Muslims students and teachers in the schools ought to have been taken into consideration before the decision.
He expressed concern on the taxpayers money the government had expended in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the schools which are now handed over to the missionary organizations.
Igbinidu also questioned the fate of students attending the returned schools particularly those of the Muslim faith as concerned the wearing of Hijab and the study of Islamic Religion knowledge in the returned
“NSCIA in Edo state will ensure that the interest of the Muslims would be taken care of. If the government insists on returning the schools to the Missionary after investing a lot in it, they should also look for a way to settle the Muslims children in other schools so that they will not be forced to embrace the religion they are not interested in because of government action.
“Now that they are returning the schools to the missionary, what will now be the fate of Muslims students, are they going to allow them to take Islamic studies or wear Hijab? Also, who is going to finance the running of the schools.”
Also speaking, Zakariyah Musa, Chairman Edo North Council of Ulama, who condemned the government decision stated that Muslims and non-Catholic denomination children are more in those schools than their Catholic counterparts.
The Chairman Edo North Council of Ulama, who wondered what would be the fate of Muslim students and teachers in the schools, noted that the Muslim stakeholders would soon have a meeting with the governor in a bid to address the issue.
He said the governor is supposed to be for all irrespective of faith.
In his reaction, Imam Harun Umar, the Chairman, Edo South Council of Ulama, said the governor’s decision has a wider implication in the education sector in the state, hence the need for consultation and engagement with all the relevant stakeholders.
Umar noted that the decision of the governor may be counter productive in terms of improvement of the academic standards and discipline of children.
“The governor may apparently think that such a move will boost the academic standard and discipline of the children, but if you look at the wider implications, it is rational to maintain the status quo. There are better way of achieving education and discipline than returning the schools to missionaries
“I think there is a need for engagement and wider consultations. The governor has set up a five-man implementation committee, I hope they will engage in consultation and dialogue with the people.
“The governor did not think of the likely implications of his action before taking the decision. It will not only affect the Muslims but other Christians whose beliefs are also different from the Catholic”, he stated.
Umar, however, expressed optimism that the governor would be more abreast of the positive and negative implications of his action, if there is proper engagement with relevant stakeholders.
He, therefore, called on the governor to halt the process and do a wider consultation before releasing the schools to the Catholic as the aftermath would be counter productive
The Vice Chairman, Edo Central Council of Ulama, Sado Mutairu Ibhafidon, expressed disappointment on the decision of the governor which he noted would undermine the academic pursuit of the Muslim children.
“Muslims in the Edo central Senatorial district are disappointed with the pronouncement because it was not part of his agenda and campaign promises when they all campaigned for him.
“Muslims are not happy with the development and we hope it wouldn’t happened because the former governor also said such but didn’t see the light of the day.
“We are not going to relent, we will keep pushing, dialogue with the governor to let him know the implications, we know how missionary operates.
“I am from his local government and member of his party, I received beating while our livelihood suffered when we were supporting him. He can’t just say because some people met with him and handed over public schools for both religions to the Catholic.”
Ibhafidon advised the governor to dialogue with the people positing that his government should be for all religion, including Islam.
He called on Muslims, especially those working with the governor, to join hands and dialogue with him by letting him know the implications of his actions.
He opined that the decision by the governor to hand over public schools to missionary organizations was tantamount of pushing the Muslims out of the state because they are in minority.
Edo Muslim community berates Okpebholo over returns of schools to missionary organizations
