Edo Governor Fires Education Board Chair, Appoints Erewele

Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has removed Dr. Maureen Ekhoragbon as the Chairperson of the State Senior Secondary Education Board and appointed Dr. Rita Otibho Erewele as her successor.The announcement was made on Monday in a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Ikhilor Musa.

The statement confirmed that the decision took immediate effect, though no reason was given for the change in leadership.Dr. Erewele, the newly appointed chairperson, is a well-experienced educationist and administrator with over 20 years of service in Nigeria’s education sector.

She holds a PhD in Educational Administration and Planning, as well as master’s and bachelor’s degrees in education from the University of Benin.

She has served in various capacities, including as a lecturer, consultant, and senior education officer, and is known for her involvement in teacher development, curriculum improvement, and education policy formulation.

Earlier this month, the Edo State Government approved the absorption of 4,000 volunteer teachers under the EdoStar Teaching Programme and announced plans to recruit 500 new teachers to strengthen the teaching workforce in public schools.

The Commissioner for Education, Dr. Paddy Iyamu, said the development was part of Governor Okpebholo’s effort to recognize the commitment of educators and tackle teacher shortages in both primary and secondary schools.

The appointment of Dr. Erewele marks another step in the state government’s ongoing efforts to reform the education system and enhance learning quality across Edo State.