The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said his government will sustain ongoing reforms in the state’s education sector, ensuring the right infrastructure, manpower, and other incentives to achieve a quality, world-class educational system.

The governor gave the assurance when he inspected additional 1.5 million books and other instructional materials to be distributed to schools across the three senatorial districts of the State.

Obaseki, who inspected the materials at New Era College in Benin City, said his government is rethinking the education sector to equip young people in the state with the skills and knowledge required to survive the fourth industrial revolution.

He noted, “We will do all we can to ensure that the system continues and is sustained. Talk about it and let the world know about the changes in the education sector in Edo State.  We thank you all for being part of the educational revolution in Edo State. Printing almost 2 million books and distributing them across the 18 local government areas of the state is a huge task.

“I urge you to make sure that the books are not trashed but used effectively. I trust Edo children to put the materials to best use and the society will be better for it and will reap the benefits of our education revolution in the State.”

On her part, the Chairman of SUBEB, Mrs. Ozavize Salami said the State has distributed 3.3 million books to 848 primary schools and 306 junior secondary schools across Edo.

She noted, “The basic education system reforms in the State are all about the children learning better. On the international stage, Edo is seen as a country due to the success of Governor Obaseki's educational reforms in Edo State.  Since the programme started, we have distributed 1.8 million books across 848 primary schools in the State. An additional 1.5 million books will be distributed free to all schools in the 18 local government councils of the State.”

According to Salami, “the free books, provided with the support of the World Bank will benefit 381,398 students across 1,330 state-owned primary and junior secondary schools.”