…. Laments; it’s affecting us negatively, our children are suffering, we are all suffering
From our Correspondent, Benin
The people of Igueoshodin Nikpemaba, Ovia -North-East Local Government Area of Edo State, have appealed to the Governor, Senator Monday Okpbholo for the reopening of their secondary school, shut down by the State Government several years ago.
They made the appeal on Thursday, 16 October, 2025 while taking journalists on a site seeing of the school now turned forest, and a part of the expanse compound; a farm land, with the buildings falling apart.
Igueoshodin Nikpemaba Secondary School, Igueoshodin was established in 1980 by the late Prof. Ambrose Alli led Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) administration, existed till about 2005 before its shut down in spite of having produced several distinguished personalities across different spheres of life.
The Odionwere, a Centenarian, Pa. Johnson Ahanon led a gathering of the people to appeal to the Senator Okpebholo’s administration, to quickly intervene and reopen the school.
The Odionwere and the second ranking elder, Mathew Igbinosun lamented the dearth of development and growth of the community particularly the closure of the secondary school, by the State Government.
Igueoshodin Nikpemaba Secondary School used to serve no less than ten communities in the locality; but since its closure, their children trek long distances to Egor and other places to attend school, hence the appeal to alleviate their suffering, they added.
Prince Peter Eweka, the Chairman, Elders Council of Igueoshodin Nikpemaba, lamenting the situation he termed; unfortunate and a nightmare in modern day Nigeria, Prince Eweka said the people of the community are pleading with the Governor, to extend his benevolence to reopen the school.
“Just look at the very sorry state of the school long abandoned after its shut down by the State Government.
“Now, our children are at the receiving end, suffering from long distance trekking, hopping on bike to other places to attend school.
“Children from no less than ten communities in this environment were attending this school.
“So we are begging the Governor to please use his good office to reopen the school for us; to put an end to the suffering of our children.”
Before its final closure, the school was abandoned by the State Government when Abel Guobadia was commissioner for education, and the natives of Igueoshodin Nikpemaba took over the funding, Prince Eweka said.
The Okaighele (youth head) Kenneth Omoregbe and Sunday Ojo Zabayo who passed through the school from 1980 to 1985 spoke in the same vein; appealing to the Edo State Government under the Governor, Senator Okpebholo to come to their aid and reopen the school.
Also, they appealed that the Governor should help tar the Igueoshodin Nikpemaba road connecting several agro communities to Egor; an urban area, and the City of Benin stressing its multiplying benefits cannot be overemphasized.
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