A wave of public indignation has hit the Edo State government following the emergence of harrowing images documenting the decay of Okpokhumi Grammar School.
Despite being the only government secondary school serving the three communities of Okpokhumi Emai, Ojavun New, and Ojavun Old, the facility has reportedly been left to rot for decades, leaving thousands of students in a perilous learning environment.
A Learning Environment in Shambles
The school, located in the Owan East Local Government Area, currently caters to 1,768 students who are forced to attend classes in buildings that critics describe as glorified ruins. Reports indicate that the infrastructure has reached a point of near-total collapse: roofs have been blown off, ceilings are non-existent, and floors have turned into cracked, dirt-filled hazards.
When the rainy season hits, the situation turns from dire to impossible. The lack of roofing causes classrooms to flood completely, forcing children to abandon their lessons and return home with soaked textbooks. For the families of the three affected communities, the school represents a criminally abandoned relic that stands in stark contrast to the state’s official educational budget.
Allegations of Political Negligence
The advocacy group MonITNG, which brought the school’s condition to national attention, has accused Governor Monday Okpekholo’s administration of prioritizing political maneuvering over basic infrastructure. The group alleges that while the state has budgeted billions of naira for education, resources are being diverted toward political loyalty and the 2027 presidential reelection campaign of Bola Tinubu.
“The innocent children of Okpokhumi cannot eat political loyalty. They cannot read textbooks under a campaign banner. They cannot pass their WAEC examinations sitting on broken benches under a roof that the next rainfall will destroy completely,” the group stated.
Leaders Under Fire
The outcry has not been limited to the executive branch. Local representatives are facing intense scrutiny for their perceived silence. Senator Adams Aliu Oshiomhole, Hon. Julius Ihonvbere (National Assembly), and Hon. Timothy Okaka (Edo State House of Assembly) have all been called out for looking away while their constituents’ children suffer.
Critics argue that the jumbo salaries and allowances collected by these representatives represent a profound betrayal of the voters in Owan East. The juxtaposition of funded political rallies and renovated government houses against the collapsing, leaking roofs of Okpokhumi is being labeled by activists as a deliberate and callous political choice.
The Minimum Standard
The surrounding communities are not demanding luxury; they are demanding the constitutional bare minimum. The immediate needs cited by parents and advocates include:
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Structural Integrity: Walls that stand firm and do not pose a collapse risk.
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Weather Protection: A functional roof to prevent the rivers that form in classrooms during rain.
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Basic Dignity: Solid floors and intact benches for the 1,768 dreams currently at risk.
As the images of the school continue to circulate on social media, the pressure on the Edo State Government to fix Okpokhumi Grammar School immediately continues to mount. For now, the students of Okpokhumi Emai remain in a race against time and the elements, waiting to see if their education is worth more to the state than a campaign banner.
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