Catholic Church to partner with Edo on schools devt

By Simon Ebegbulem
BENIN—THE Catholic Church, has disclosed its intention to collaborate with the Edo State government in its schools’ development programme. It has appealed to the state government to return schools to the original owners.

The Church’s intention was made known, Wenesday, by the Apostolic Nuncio of the Holy See to Nigeria (Ambassador of Rome to Nigeria),  Most Rev Augustine Kasujja, during a courtesy visit to Governor Adams Oshiomhole in Benin City.

According to Papal Nuncio, “we have seen how much the Church can contribute to education. I know at a time, the mission schools were nationalised. I think the Church can be given a chance to help in the development of the schools and in developing the young people, who are in the majority.”

Appealing for the return of mission schools to their original owners, Most Rev Kasujja, said “it is the desire of the Catholic Church that some of the schools be returned so that the Church can help in the reform of the students, spiritually and morally.”

While thanking Governor Oshiomhole for the cordial relationship between the Church and government, Most Rev Kasujja, said the Holy See considers Nigeria very important to Church.

In his response, Governor Oshiomhole, said that “the church has been playing a very important role in the life of the state. I am a beneficiary of the educational activities of the church and I know that the Catholic schools were better managed, not only in terms of academics, but impacting morals.”

Commenting on the request for schools to be returned to their original owners, Oshiomhole said, “it is something that has been on our table.

My position is that looking at the extent of mismanagement of these schools and the fact that most of them were completely run down, it might be easy to hand them over as it is, but I am not sure the church would have the resources to return them to what they were before they were taken over.

“ I thought the starting point is for the state to rebuild them. When we have restored the schools to certain standards, then we can engage the church on the responsibility of returning the schools to the church for management,” he said.