By Fr. Michael Nsikak Umoh
The Metropolitan Catholic Archbishop of Owerri, Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, has launched a fierce criticism against the Imo State Commissioner for Education, Prof. B.T.O. Ikegwuoha, over what he described as despotic, authoritarian, and overreaching administrative directives.
In an official public statement released in Owerri, the prelate expressed profound concern over recent regulatory mandates issued by the State’s Ministry of Education. Archbishop Ugorji warned that unilateral policy shifts risk undermining the long-standing educational partnership between religious institutions and the state government while violating the professional independence of educators.
The Archbishop outlined several controversial directives issued by the Ministry of Education which he argued threaten academic autonomy and religious freedoms in mission and private schools across Imo State. A primary area of contention centers on mandated religious holidays, specifically directives forcing Christian mission schools to observe Islamic holidays; a requirement the Church views as a direct infringement on its institutional ethos and operational autonomy.
Additionally, the ministry’s unilateral fixing of school resumption and closing dates without prior consultation or open dialogue with key education stakeholders has created widespread frustration over arbitrary academic calendars. The Church also raised alarms regarding commercial and curricular overreach, pointing to state control over the selection and pricing of textbooks alongside rigid, top-down operational mandates. Compounding these challenges is the systematic suppression of dissent, evidenced by reported threats of punitive measures and intimidation against educators and administrators who dare to voice concerns over the ministry’s policies.
“The Ministry of Education must foster collaboration and open dialogue rather than adopting draconian measures that strain the relationship between government and religious institutions,” the statement emphasised, cautioning against actions that misrepresent the vision of the state administration.
Archbishop Ugorji directly appealed to the Executive Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, urging him to call the Education Commissioner to order to prevent an unnecessary rift between the state government and Church authorities.
Furthermore, the prelate called on elected representatives in the Imo State House of Assembly to launch an immediate investigation into the alleged abuses of power within the Ministry of Education, demanding a return to democratic governance and institutional accountability.
Ending his address with a message of solidarity, Archbishop Ugorji commended teachers, school administrators, and families who continue to resist undemocratic encroachments, reaffirming the Church’s commitment to upholding quality moral and academic standards in the region.
