BENIN CITY — As Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, marks his 56th birthday, his administration’s interventions in the education sector have emerged as one of the most visible measures of his government’s performance since assuming office on 12th November, 2024.
Education was among the sectors the governor placed under close watch in what could be described as a state of emergency, with emphasis on infrastructure, manpower, teacher welfare, access and quality.
In less than two years, the government has rolled out a combination of school reconstruction and rehabilitation, teacher recruitment and promotion, student support programmes, increased funding for tertiary institutions and reforms aimed at improving learning outcomes.
One of the most prominent aspects of the intervention has been the rehabilitation and construction of public schools across the state.
Government reports indicate that more than 100 schools were constructed within the administration’s first year, while several other institutions have undergone rehabilitation and upgrading. The projects have cut across Edo’s three senatorial districts and are aimed at providing safer and more conducive learning environments for pupils and students.
A Benin City-based parent, Mrs. Glory Ayemoba, said the physical transformation has been particularly noticeable in schools that had suffered years of deterioration. At the primary and secondary school levels, projects such as reconstructed classrooms and the provision of water facilities have formed part of the administration’s effort to improve the learning environment.
A secondary school teacher, Mr. Lucas Egbadon, said that beyond infrastructure, Governor Monday Okpebholo has placed considerable emphasis on the teaching workforce.
In February 2025, the governor approved promotion letters for 8,476 primary and junior secondary school teachers, covering promotions from 2022 to January 2024. The move, he noted, was deliberate and intended to address career stagnation and improve teachers’ morale.
“The government also recruited thousands of teachers, with reports putting the number employed or absorbed into the public service at more than 6,000 during the administration’s first year,” Egbadon said.
Another public school teacher in Benin city, Mrs. Priscilia Osaretin, said the impact of the renewed focus on teachers was also reflected at the 2026 National Teachers Summit in Abuja, where Edo emerged as a major winner in the South-South zone. Physics teacher Okhide Eugene of Imaguero College, Benin City, received a N25 million award for outstanding performance.
For Mr. Goodluck Momodu, a public affairs analyst in Fugar, Etsako Central Local Government Area, the developments represent evidence of what he described as deliberate investment in education.
Momodu said Okpebholo’s recognition as New Telegraph’s Governor of the Year in Education reflected improvements in infrastructure, teacher recruitment and access to quality learning.
At the tertiary level, the Okpebholo administration has also significantly increased funding to state-owned institutions.
The monthly subvention to Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, was raised from N41 million to N500 million, while Edo State University, Iyamho, had its monthly allocation increased to N250 million. In April 2026, the governor also approved a N2 billion grant for infrastructural development at Edo State University and announced additional buses for the institution.
At the Edo State College of Education, Igueben, the institution’s monthly subvention was increased from N19 million to N100 million, with a similar gesture extended to the state-owned Edo State Polytechnic, Usen.
The administration subsequently introduced the Senator Monday Okpebholo Education Talent Hunt Competition, through which the top 54 students are to receive fully funded scholarships to state-owned tertiary institutions. The programme covers institutions including Ambrose Alli University, Edo State University, Edo State Polytechnic and colleges of education.
These initiatives particularly in the tertiary education level according to Professor Samson Aluyor of the State owned Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma represents an attempt to broaden the definition of education policy beyond construction of school buildings, research, learning and teacher recruitment by also identifying and rewarding academic talent.
A resident of Ewu in Esan Central Local Government Area, Mrs.Irene Abhulimen, also placed on record the introduction of the Edu rescue initiative by Governor Monday Okpebholo aimed at reconnecting children who are out of school with formal education while back-to-school materials and monitoring mechanisms have been deployed to support the policy.
As Governor Monday Okpebholo marks 56, education has consequently become one of the defining pillars of his administration. The scale of investment in schools, teachers, tertiary institutions and student support has provided measurable milestones for assessing his first phase in office.
