By joshua 
You Lied On Ownership Of St. Philomena’s College ——- Catholic Church Tells Oshiomhole
—— call on him to retract his erroneous statement
FROM IKHILI EBALU, BENIN CITY
The Catholic Archdiocese of Benin City has strongly refuted Senator Adams Oshiomhole’s claim that St. Philomena’s College of Nursing Sciences was built, equipped, owned, and funded 100% by the Edo State Government.
According to Rev. Fr. Jude Orah, Director of Social Communications and Press of the Catholic Archdiocese of Benin City, the claim is “entirely false and should be disregarded”.
Rev Orah who was speaking during a press conference stated that, “the college is owned by the Catholic Archdiocese of Benin City.
The institution was built, equipped, and funded by the Archdiocese and kind of donations from benefactors, including a recent ₦15 million donation from Peter Obi.”
Senator Oshiomhole had during a
a live broadcast on Arise News on July 26, 2025, unequivocally claimed that the College of Nursing Sciences was “built, equipped and owned and funded by the Edo State Government hundred percent.”
He further stated that, St. Philomena Catholic Hospital, which houses the college, was founded in 1947 by Catholic missionaries to heal, educate, and uphold human dignity, particularly for the poor and vulnerable.
According to Rev. Orah, “the institution has been sustained through the Church’s sacrificial giving, labour of priests and religious sisters, goodwill of donors, and modest service charges, without any governmental subvention or state budgetary allocation. He stated.
Rev. Orah stated that , St. Philomena Catholic Hospital is a house of healing, a school of mercy, and a sanctuary of hope. It bears the name of a saint, a symbol of purity, sacrifice, and truth, and the legacy of selfless missionaries.
Adding that, “Its ownership is not up for debate. Its mission is not for sale. I call on Senator Oshiomhole to retract his erroneous statement and consult directly with the Archdiocese for accurate information in the future. Facts are sacred. And when truth is wounded, it must be healed like a patient in the very wards of St. Philomena. He concluded.