Governor Francis Nwifuru pledged on Sunday in Abakaliki that the Ebonyi State Government will complete the process of returning all mission schools to their original owners by December. The promise was made during a pastoral visit to the governor by the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Abakaliki, Most Reverend Peter Nworie.
Acknowledging the pivotal role played by the Catholic Church and other missions in enhancing the quality of education in the state, Governor Nwifuru directed the Commissioner for Primary and Secondary Education, as well as the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, to initiate the necessary processes for the return of the schools to the missions.
Expressing concern about the challenges faced in the area of education, Governor Nwifuru announced initiatives to address the issue. These include sending 100 First Class and 2nd Class Upper Division graduates abroad for further education and sponsoring 300 individuals to pursue their Master’s degrees in Nigeria’s institutions of higher learning.
The governor affirmed the government’s willingness to relinquish control of schools to the Catholic Church and other missions if they express readiness to take them back.
During the pastoral visit, Governor Nwifuru commended the bishop for his presence and for blessing the congregation of the Government House Chapel earlier. He reiterated his commitment to involving churches in his administration.
Bishop Peter Nworie, in response, expressed the church’s readiness to collaborate with the government to enhance teaching and learning in Ebonyi State. He emphasized the emotional significance of the schools, forcibly taken away after the Civil War, and conveyed the church’s eagerness to work with the government toward the common goal of improving education.
The bishop appreciated Governor Nwifuru’s positive steps and called on cabinet members to offer their full support to the governor, stressing that the success of each cabinet member is integral to the success of the entire government.
