Inside Edo
Abandoned Edo vocational centre highlights government neglect
Written By: Emmanuel Ikhenebome
31 Oct 2025 01:00 PM
Uzebba, Edo – A multimillion-naira Universal Basic Education (UBE) Vocational Centre in Uzebba, Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State, has become a poignant symbol of government neglect and wasted public resources, according to a shocking exposé shared on X by @monitng.
The once-promising facility, designed to empower youth with vocational and technical skills, now stands abandoned, its roofs collapsing, walls crumbling, and grounds overrun by weeds and vandalism.
The vocational centre, facilitated by former House of Representatives member Hon. Pally Iriase, was intended to provide training and employment opportunities for young people across the Iuleha communities, aiming to curb crime rates. However, eight years into Governor Godwin Obaseki’s administration, the project remains unutilized, transforming from a beacon of hope into a den for criminal activities and a stark reminder of unfulfilled promises.
The post highlights the irony of the situation, noting that the centre is located in the hometown of Hon. Julius Ihonvbere, the current Majority Leader of the House of Representatives and Chairman of the Universal Basic Education Committee.
Despite his influential role, the facility—built under the UBE Commission’s initiative—has deteriorated under his watch, raising questions about accountability.
The urgency of the situation was underscored by a recent tragedy in the nearby Okeigho-Okpuje Iuleha community. Residents were plunged into mourning after operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) allegedly killed a 17-year-old secondary school student during a midnight raid at approximately 4 a.m., linked to drug-related activities.
Activists argue that a functioning vocational centre could have offered a viable alternative, steering youth away from crime and substance abuse.
In a passionate call to action, @monitng has urged the Edo State Government, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (representing Edo North), and Hon. Julius Ihonvbere (representing Owan Federal Constituency) to immediately rehabilitate and activate the facility.
The restoration, they argue, would honor the original intent of the project and restore hope to the region’s youth, while addressing the misuse of public funds.
Governor Obaseki’s administration had previously pledged in 2020 to upgrade a similar vocational school in Uzebba into a technical college and tackle the community’s water scarcity issues, yet progress remains stalled.
The once-promising facility, designed to empower youth with vocational and technical skills, now stands abandoned, its roofs collapsing, walls crumbling, and grounds overrun by weeds and vandalism.
The vocational centre, facilitated by former House of Representatives member Hon. Pally Iriase, was intended to provide training and employment opportunities for young people across the Iuleha communities, aiming to curb crime rates. However, eight years into Governor Godwin Obaseki’s administration, the project remains unutilized, transforming from a beacon of hope into a den for criminal activities and a stark reminder of unfulfilled promises.
The post highlights the irony of the situation, noting that the centre is located in the hometown of Hon. Julius Ihonvbere, the current Majority Leader of the House of Representatives and Chairman of the Universal Basic Education Committee.
Despite his influential role, the facility—built under the UBE Commission’s initiative—has deteriorated under his watch, raising questions about accountability.
The urgency of the situation was underscored by a recent tragedy in the nearby Okeigho-Okpuje Iuleha community. Residents were plunged into mourning after operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) allegedly killed a 17-year-old secondary school student during a midnight raid at approximately 4 a.m., linked to drug-related activities.
Activists argue that a functioning vocational centre could have offered a viable alternative, steering youth away from crime and substance abuse.
In a passionate call to action, @monitng has urged the Edo State Government, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (representing Edo North), and Hon. Julius Ihonvbere (representing Owan Federal Constituency) to immediately rehabilitate and activate the facility.
The restoration, they argue, would honor the original intent of the project and restore hope to the region’s youth, while addressing the misuse of public funds.
Governor Obaseki’s administration had previously pledged in 2020 to upgrade a similar vocational school in Uzebba into a technical college and tackle the community’s water scarcity issues, yet progress remains stalled.
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