Edo Secures Nigeria’s First Loyola Jesuit University; Govt Offers ₦200m Fee Waiver, Scholarships, and Community Benefits

All things being equal, Ewatto community in Esan South-East local government area of Edo State will soon attract global attention as it is set to host the first Loyola Jesuit University in Nigeria.
Pursuant to this, the Edo State Government has granted approval to the Jesuit Education Worldwide for the development of the university.

Announcing this after presenting the relevant documentation to the Head, Jesuit Education Worldwide, Rev. Fr. Joseph Christie S.J, the Commissioner for Physical Planning, Housing, Urban and Regional Development, Isoken Omo, said, “The Edo State Government, through the Ministry of Physical Planning, Housing, Urban and Regional Development, has granted approval to the Jesuit Education worldwide for the development of the first Loyola Jesuit University in Nigeria.

“This approval was pursued for a decade, and His Excellency, Godwin Obaseki, granted it and waived the fees of over ₦200m. Instead of paying cash, it was agreed that the University would grant scholarships and provide amenities in the Ewatto Community over time to the tune of the approval fees.

“The Head of Jesuit Education worldwide, Rev. Fr. Joseph Christie S.J came all the way from the Vatican in Rome to pick the approval in the company of Fr. John Okoria S.J, who is in charge of Loyola Jesuit Education North-West Africa.”

According to Omo, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) outlining the terms of the waiver will be signed between the Edo State Government and Jesuit Education Worldwide, adding that the groundbreaking ceremony for the university would be done by Governor Obaseki this August, just before the Edo @ 33 celebrations.