The Catholic Archdiocese of Benin City, in setting the record straight, have clarified that St. Philomena College of Nursing is not government-owned, debunking an earlier claim by Adams Aliu Oshiomhole, a former governor of Edo State.
Jude Orah, director, social communications and press of the Archdiocese, stated that the clarification is a call for truth in a time of misinformation. According to him, the college is fully owned by the Archdiocese.
He stated that St. Philomena College of Nursing was built, equipped, and funded through the sacrificial giving of the Church, labour of priests and religious sisters, goodwill of donors, and modest service charges.
“This clarification became necessary in response to misleading statements made by Senator Oshiomhole during a live broadcast on Arise News, where he claimed that the college was “built, equipped, and owned and funded by Edo State Government, hundred percent.”
He noted that St. Philomena Catholic Hospital was founded in 1947 by Catholic missionaries (precisely the sisters of Our Lady of Apostles, as part of the Church’s apostolic mandate to heal, educate, and uphold human dignity.
According to the director of communication, the Archdiocese has been sustaining the institution through its resources and donations from benefactors, including a recent donation of ₦15 million from Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party at the 2023 Presidential Election.
Orah stated that the Archdiocese has demanded that Oshiomhole retract his statement and consult directly with the Church for accurate information in the future. “Archdiocese of Benin City believes that spreading false information can be damaging to the integrity of long-standing institutions like St. Philomena Catholic Hospital.”
