The Edo State Executive Council, led by Governor Monday Okpebholo, has approved a series of landmark projects aimed at strengthening education and community development across the state.
The approvals include the construction of a 1,500-seater lecture theatre, two additional 300-capacity lecture theatres, and a 600-bed hostel at Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma. According to the state government, these projects are designed to ease overcrowding, improve learning conditions, and provide students with facilities that match global academic standards.
Beyond tertiary education, the government has also given the green light for the remodeling and reconstruction of eight secondary schools, alongside the commencement of Phase Three of the Basic Schools Renovation Program. Beneficiary local government areas include Ovia North East, Ikpoba-Okha, Etsako West, Esan West, and Uhunmwonde.
Governor Okpebholo’s administration emphasized that the initiative is about equity and balance, ensuring that students in rural communities have access to the same quality of classrooms as their peers in urban centers. “When children in Iruekpen or Ovia North East learn in the same conducive environment as those in Benin City, we are rewriting Edo’s future,” a government spokesperson noted.
In addition to education, the Council also approved the establishment of new markets in Orhionmwon, Ikpoba-Okha, Ovia North East, and Jatu in Edo North, along with the provision of 25 transformers for oil-producing communities. These moves are seen as part of a broader strategy to connect education with commerce and infrastructure—ensuring parents are economically empowered to support their children’s schooling while schools benefit from stable electricity for modern learning tools.
Observers say the projects reflect a holistic governance approach that recognizes education as both a driver and a beneficiary of wider social transformation. The initiatives, once completed, are expected to benefit thousands of students, traders, and families across the state.
“This is not just about bricks and mortar,” the statement continued. “It is about human capital. It is about the girl in Uhunmwonde walking into a renovated classroom with confidence, or the undergraduate in Ekpoma who no longer has to stand through lectures due to overcrowding.”
By aligning investments in education, commerce, and power supply, the Okpebholo administration is positioning Edo State to leave an enduring legacy. Analysts say the success of these projects will not only shape the destiny of future leaders but also strengthen Edo’s contribution to Nigeria’s development.
