Governor Godwin Obaseki has stood by his decision to demolish the Edo Central Hospital in Benin City, affirming that the site’s repurposing as the Museum of West Africa (MOWA) aligns with a larger vision for enhancing Edo State’s cultural and educational landscape.
Obaseki made this statement on Wednesday during the inauguration of the newly remodelled School of Science and Health Technology, where he also participated in the matriculation ceremony for new students.
Speaking in Benin City, Obaseki highlighted the museum project as a key investment in preserving the region’s heritage. The decision to remove the old hospital, he emphasized, was intended to revitalize Edo’s healthcare and education infrastructure.
“I have no regrets about bringing down the Edo Central Hospital,” Obaseki asserted. “In its place, we have established over ten primary healthcare centres, each serving the population that once relied on a single central hospital. Look at what we’ve done in areas like Oredo, Amagba, and Evbotubu.”
The governor reflected on the changes driven by lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, which he credited as a pivotal factor in his commitment to revamping the state’s healthcare system. “During COVID-19 in 2020, I promised that if I survived it, I would refurbish all health institutions in Edo State,” he explained. He added that the pandemic highlighted the urgent need for a robust healthcare infrastructure and workforce, noting, “Healthcare is not only about hospitals or infrastructure but about the people who must be trained to deliver the service.”
Obaseki also addressed past issues within Edo’s healthcare training institutions, such as the closure and lack of accreditation of the state’s nursing schools and the College of Health Science and Technology. He expressed determination to fill these gaps, stating, “In 2016, when I became governor, young people in this state did not have the opportunities they have today. It was all about politics, not development.”
Outlining his vision, Obaseki noted the necessity for fully functional primary healthcare centres across Edo’s almost 200 political wards, with an average of 10 health workers employed per centre. He explained, “If primary healthcare centres function properly, many illnesses could be treated locally, reducing the need for medical travel abroad. With nearly 200 wards in Edo, this calls for about 2,000 trained health workers—and now, we have the facilities to train them.”
During the ceremony, Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal also spoke, applauding Obaseki’s efforts to advance the state’s healthcare education facilities. He encouraged the institution’s management to establish a student exchange program with similar health institutions in Zamfara State.
