The Umbrella

Benin Catholic Archdiocese debunks Oshiomhole’s claim: “St. Philomena College of Nursing Is not govt-owned”

The Catholic Archdiocese of Benin City has strongly refuted recent claims made by Senator Adams Oshiomhole, asserting that the St. Philomena College of Nursing Sciences is not a government-owned institution but is fully owned, funded, and managed by the Catholic church.

In a press conference held at the Archdiocesan Department of Social Communications on Wednesday, Rev. Fr. Jude Orah, Director of Social Communications, condemned the former governor’s statement as “entirely false” and an “unethical distortion of facts.”

Senator Oshiomhole, during a live broadcast on Arise News on July 26, 2025, had claimed that the College of Nursing located within the premises of St. Philomena Catholic Hospital in Benin City was “built, equipped and owned and funded by Edo State Government hundred per cent.”

The comment sparked public debate, especially coming shortly after a ₦15 million donation to the college by former Anambra State governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, on July 7.

In his statement, Fr. Orah noted that “St. Philomena Catholic Hospital and its academic arms, the School of Midwifery and the College of Nursing Sciences, have always been a mission of the Catholic Archdiocese of Benin City. They were neither built nor funded by the Edo State Government.”

Founded in 1947 by Catholic missionaries, the hospital and its institutions have, according to Fr. Orah, operated for over seven decades without any budgetary allocation or subvention from the state government.

“It is the sacrifice of the Church, the commitment of religious workers, and the generosity of donors like Mr. Peter Obi that have sustained these institutions,” he said.

The Catholic Church’s health and educational apostolate, Fr. Orah emphasized, is a “living ministry of healing and love,” rooted in its spiritual and moral obligation to serve humanity, particularly the poor and vulnerable, without regard for religion, ethnicity, or political affiliation.

He further accused Senator Oshiomhole of attempting to politicize a charitable act and engaging in “political revisionism” that trades in falsehood. “To suggest that a Church-owned facility is ‘government-owned’ and ‘government-funded’, simply to downplay a charitable act by a political opponent, is not only unethical but profoundly damaging,” he stated.

The Church has called on Senator Oshiomhole to retract his statement and consult the Archdiocese for proper information before making further public declarations.

“Facts are sacred,” Fr. Orah said, warning that “when truth is wounded, it must be healed like a patient in the very wards of St. Philomena.”

The Catholic Archdiocese also used the occasion to encourage the media to uphold professional standards by fact-checking public statements, especially those with potential to mislead or tarnish the legacy of faith-based institutions.

St. Philomena Catholic Hospital, according to the Archdiocese, remains a “house of healing, a school of mercy, and a sanctuary of hope,” with no political ownership or affiliations. Its mission, Fr. Orah concluded, “is not for sale.”