Archbishop Ugorji denounces Imo State Education Commissioner

In brief

Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji of Owerri criticized Imo State Commissioner for Education Bernard Thomson for issuing directives that he described as despotic and overreaching. In a statement published September 4, the Archbishop said recent policies issued via social media undermine academic freedom and the participation of stakeholders in the education sector.

Archbishop Ugorji expressed concern that the Ministry of Education is centralizing absolute control and micromanaging mission and private schools. He noted that these policies compel Christian schools in the state to observe Islamic holidays and dictate specific dates for school resumption and closing. The Archbishop also reported that the ministry has issued threats of punishment against educators.

The Archbishop stated that the current leadership has replaced collaboration and mutual respect with dictatorship and high-handedness. He argued that this top-down approach strips educators of decision-making power and threatens the foundational principles of the educational system.