The Vice-Chancellor of Edo University Iyamho, Prof. Victor Adetimirin Olawale, has joined several others to provide further insight into why Governor Monday Okpebholo deserves the New Telegraph Governor of the Year 2025 in Education Award.In an exclusive interview, Prof. Olawale described the award as fitting recognition of a governor who prioritises education and actively engages with institutions to identify and address their needs.

We are not pursuing the governor,” he said. “The Government of Edo State is pursuing us to improve education; the standards, the delivery, the infrastructure, and the facilities.”According to him, Governor Okpebholo’s commitment goes beyond policy statements to practical action. He cited a recent request by the university’s Governing Council Chairman for an increase in monthly subvention.Here him, “The first day I met him, when I stood up to address him, he insisted that I sit down. He said he would not allow me to address him while standing. I have rarely encountered such humility. It changed my understanding of what true humility means.”“

I have never seen such humility. I thought I understood the meaning of humility and what it means to be humble, but I was wrong because my understanding changed after I met the governor.“Let me also say that there was a request to increase our subvention, which was made on behalf of the university by the Chairman of the Governing Council. It used to be ₦100 million monthly, inclusive of tax, and the governor promised he would do something about it. I thought it would take effect in the new year, 2026.“On the 28th of October, the bursar informed me that we had been credited with the sum of ₦250 million. So our subvention increased in the same month the request was made, rising to ₦250 million. He did not have to wait until January. How else can one demonstrate the governor’s commitment to education?“I believe this award by New Telegraph Newspaper is well deserved.

In addition, over the last one and a half months, we have received several communications from the Ministry of Education, which wants to identify areas where it can support us. We have also had visits from the Ministry of Energy. They sought to assess our energy usage because the governor has plans to provide us with a greener source of power; solar energy, to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply.

How then can one question the governor’s commitment to education?“I want to express my personal appreciation and a deep one at that, to His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, for prioritising education. I am persuaded that his investment in education will begin to yield the dividends we desire in the near future.“So, on behalf of all of us at the university, we believe this award is well deserved, and we rejoice and celebrate with our governor. I also want to thank him for his humility and for being gracious in so many ways. May God bless him and keep him for us.”