Edo State Government has formally handed over St. Maria Goretti College, Benin City — one of Nigeria’s most prestigious all-girls secondary schools — to the Catholic Mission, as part of its sweeping education reform policy aimed at improving academic and moral standards in public schools across the state.
Though details are still sketchy the official handover ceremony took place at the Ministry of Education in Benin City, with the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Paddy Iyamu, in attendance, alongside representatives of the Catholic Archdiocese of Benin, alumni of the school, and stakeholders.
Established decades ago and named after the young Catholic saint known for her purity and courage, St. Maria Goretti College has a rich legacy of producing generations of accomplished Nigerian women molded by discipline, academic excellence, and strong moral values.
The handover is part of a broader education reform initiative by Governor Monday Okpebholo, who on June 16, 2025, first approved the return of eight public schools in Edo North to their original missions, following consultations with the Catholic Diocese of Auchi.
Building on that commitment, the Governor on Tuesday, June 24, approved the handover of 28 additional schools across Edo Central and Edo South senatorial districts to missionary organizations, primarily the Catholic Mission.
In a statement released by Fred Itua, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, the schools returned to the Catholic Archdiocese of Benin include:
Catholic Modern School, Oghada
St. Kizito College, Eguaholor
Christ the King College, Urhonigbe
St. Thomas Secondary School, Benin City
St. Mary Catholic School, Odiguetue
St. Theresa Catholic School, Okhuokhuo
St. Maria Goretti Girls’ Grammar School, Benin CityIn addition, several schools under the Catholic Diocese of Uromi have also been approved for handover, including:
St. John Bosco College, Ubiaja
Sacred Heart Girls’ College, Ubiaja
Our Lady of Lourdes Grammar School, Idigun-Uromi
Annunciation Catholic College, Irrua
The Governor has also directed the formation of a state committee to oversee the identification and proper execution of the handover process for all eligible schools. He further clarified that any school currently under renovation or infrastructural upgrade by the state will remain under government supervision until those projects are completed.
“This policy shift, decades after the forceful takeover of Catholic schools by the civil government in the 1970s, aims to address long-standing grievances,” the statement read. “This comprehensive decision marks a significant step towards potentially enhancing educational standards through faith-based initiatives across Edo State.”
The move has been widely welcomed by education stakeholders who believe that returning schools to their original missionary proprietors will revive the quality of education, reinforce moral training, and promote greater accountability in Nigeria’s public school system.
