Ebonyi State government has declared its intention to return all Mission Schools to their original owners before the end of the year.
Governor Francis Nwifuru stated this during a Pastoral Visit of the Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Abakaliki, Most Dr. Peter Nworie Chukwu to the Government House Chapel, Ochoudo Centenary City on Sunday.
Governor Nwifuru who was responding to an appeal by the Bishop acknowledged that the Catholic Church is strategic to attainment of quality teaching and learning in Schools in the State and directed the Commissioner for Primary and Secondary Education and the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice to immediately commence the process of handover of the Schools to the Missions.
The Governor earlier commended the Catholic Bishop for coming to bless the congregation of the Government House Chapel and assured of his readiness to carry Churches along, including the Catholic Church in his administration.
The Governor also discouraged the Church against meddling into politics, saying their primary duty should be to preach salvation to mankind.
Governor Nwifuru who went down memory lane to chronicle the turbulence during the elections thanked God for seeing him through the struggle.
"I am not ashamed to identify with the Church because I believe that God Almighty is the owner of the Church. I have always told people that I am not ordinary person otherwise how can a former bricklayer, conductor and motorcycle mechanic become Governor of your State within a space of ten years
"We are very much badly challenged in the area of Education and we have agreed in Exco that we are going to send 100 first Class and 2nd Class Upper Graduates to Countries of their choice to further their education when they come back they will teach in our Schools.
"We will also send 300 persons to do their Masters in any Nigeria Higher Institutions of their choice
"We have a lot of challenges in the Education sector and as far as I am concerned we are going to get it back by having quality teachers in Primary and Secondary Schools.
"We won't hesitate, if the Catholic Church is ready to take back their Schools we are ready and not only Catholic Church, every other Churches whose Schools were taken over.
"I am happy that my Lord Bishop said he is going to support me, if I have physical support and now spiritual support, there is no reason I will not perform and I am very sure I am going to perform.
The Governor assured that the chapel will never be used to preach politics .
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