By Gloria Osemudiamhen
The Edo State Government under the leadership of Sen. Monday Okpebholo, has reaffirmed its commitments to prioritising and fostering a sustainable education system, aligning with the administration’s mantra and flagship of project ‘SHINE’.
Sen. Okpebholo, represented by the Coordinator, Office of the First Lady, Mrs. Edesili Okpebholo Anani, gave the assurance during the State Senior Secondary Education Board (SSEB) and the Executive Principals’ Interactive Session 2024/2025 Academic Session at Imaguero College, Sapele Road, Benin City.
The Governor commended the principals for their pivotal roles in shaping the character and development of pupils under their care, acknowledging the principals as effective leaders of their respective schools, steering the direction and shaping the future of children.
Sen. Okpebholo emphasized the importance of instilling moral values in the pupils, highlighting the crucial role of discipline in shaping character and urged the executive principals, teachers, and stakeholders to make a lasting positive impact. According to him, “When you go to public schools, children are not disciplined anymore. Students can no longer be cautioned for any act of misdemeanor, probably for fear of whom the parents are in society. These children have been given to you in trust, to mold, to bring out the best in them; that is why you are there.
“I want to encourage you that in this new Edo we are having, you will play a major role in who our children become in this State, and it will be a thing of joy that someday, a child will say, ‘That is my Principal,’ and the Principal will say, ‘That is my boy; I mentored this child.’ Teachers and principals are not really regarded as they should be because what they do is so much; you are the ones who made medical doctors, you produce lecturers, governors, senators – you produced everybody who is in the helm of affairs today, and so you are very important.”
The SSEB Chairman, Miss Omozena Ebanehita, appreciated the Governor Okpebholo’s massive investment in the education sector of the State. According to her, “The essence of the interactive session is to transform principals into performance driven school managers and to ensure secondary schools provide quality education and conducive learning environment”.
The Principal of Imaguero College, Mrs. Nosa Idiaru, appreciated the significance of the event, noting, “It was very educative and a timely event. With what the First Lady shared with us; we have confidence that the future of education in the State is bright.”
