Inside Edo
Edo education ministry relocates to incomplete hub amid commissioner’s complaints, calls for continuity
Written By: Louis Odianose Pius
29 Oct 2025 09:31 AM
Benin, Edo – In a move symbolizing both progress and persistent challenges, the Edo State Ministry of Education has officially relocated to the newly designated Education Hub at Iyaro, in the state capital, as directed by Governor Monday Okpebholo.
However, the fanfare was tempered by stark revelations from Dr. Paddy Emmanuel Iyamu, the Honorable Commissioner for Education, who publicly highlighted the facility's unfinished state during a media briefing.
Speaking to journalists at the site, Dr. Iyamu – a former Chairman of the Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) appointed Commissioner in January 2025 did not mince words about the glaring deficiencies:
"In line with the directive of the governor, we have all moved, but just as the governor stated, the building is not, still not ready... As you can see there's no light, there's no water. You can't even ease yourself because the septic tanks are not ready. The welding work is still ongoing. We still have a whole lot of things to put in place."
The Iyaro Education Hub, commissioned in November 2024 under the previous administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki, houses the Ministry of Education, SUBEB, State Secondary Education Board, Library Board, and a Primary Healthcare Centre.
Governor Okpebholo himself inspected the site on October 7, 2025, expressing disappointment over its incomplete status – pegged at around 60% completion – and vowing swift action to make it fully operational.
Sources close to the government emphasize that the move prevents further abandonment of taxpayer-funded projects, aligning with the mandate voters gave in the 2024 elections to address perceived failures of the prior PDP-led regime, even as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) recently defended the hub as a key Obaseki legacy, noting the relocation as implicit endorsement.
As the ministry adapts, observers urge a "relay race" approach to governance – passing the baton forward rather than indulging in "politics of hate and blame."
Dr. Iyamu's candid remarks, while valid, have sparked debate: Is this necessary accountability or public fault-finding post-governor's inspection?
Key voices echo the need for action over rhetoric: Complete inherited projects like the hub to avoid waste, channel concerns through legal probes if misappropriation is suspected, transform challenges into achievements.
Edo's children deserve effective governance and continuity, as all eyes are on whether this relocation marks a new chapter of excellence in Edo's education story.
However, the fanfare was tempered by stark revelations from Dr. Paddy Emmanuel Iyamu, the Honorable Commissioner for Education, who publicly highlighted the facility's unfinished state during a media briefing.
Speaking to journalists at the site, Dr. Iyamu – a former Chairman of the Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) appointed Commissioner in January 2025 did not mince words about the glaring deficiencies:
"In line with the directive of the governor, we have all moved, but just as the governor stated, the building is not, still not ready... As you can see there's no light, there's no water. You can't even ease yourself because the septic tanks are not ready. The welding work is still ongoing. We still have a whole lot of things to put in place."
The Iyaro Education Hub, commissioned in November 2024 under the previous administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki, houses the Ministry of Education, SUBEB, State Secondary Education Board, Library Board, and a Primary Healthcare Centre.
Governor Okpebholo himself inspected the site on October 7, 2025, expressing disappointment over its incomplete status – pegged at around 60% completion – and vowing swift action to make it fully operational.
Sources close to the government emphasize that the move prevents further abandonment of taxpayer-funded projects, aligning with the mandate voters gave in the 2024 elections to address perceived failures of the prior PDP-led regime, even as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) recently defended the hub as a key Obaseki legacy, noting the relocation as implicit endorsement.
As the ministry adapts, observers urge a "relay race" approach to governance – passing the baton forward rather than indulging in "politics of hate and blame."
Dr. Iyamu's candid remarks, while valid, have sparked debate: Is this necessary accountability or public fault-finding post-governor's inspection?
Key voices echo the need for action over rhetoric: Complete inherited projects like the hub to avoid waste, channel concerns through legal probes if misappropriation is suspected, transform challenges into achievements.
Edo's children deserve effective governance and continuity, as all eyes are on whether this relocation marks a new chapter of excellence in Edo's education story.
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