In a bold move to tackle the out-of-school children menace and transform the future of children across Edo State, the State Government has launched Project Edu Rescue.

The initiative is intended to drastically reduce the number of out-of-school children across the state and also make education accessible to more Edo children, and is one of the numerous steps being taken by the state government to reposition education in the state.

The State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, who officially flagged off the programme in Benin in the presence of top government officials, including the Deputy Governor, the Secretary to the State Government, and Commissioner for Education, Dr. Paddy Emmanuel Iyamu, reiterated his commitment to ensuring that every child in Edo State has access to quality education in conducive environment and learning from quality teachers.

Project Edu Rescue is a direct response to the growing concern over the number of children in Edo State who are out of school, many of whom are seen daily on the streets, in markets, and around public places during school hours.

The programme is designed to find these children, understand their stories, and provide immediate pathways back to a better future via education.
Governor Okpebholo’s presence at the launch underscored his administration’s clear commitment to children, education, and human capital development. It also aligns with the government’s broader vision to secure the future by getting children off the streets into the classroom where they belong.

The initiative, which will run in phases, began with a pilot project that involved direct outreach to communities, identification of vulnerable children, and engagement with families. It will now expand to every local government in the state, spearheaded by the Ministry of Education and partners across the education sector.

At the forefront of the project is Dr. Paddy Emmanuel Iyamu, Edo State’s Commissioner for Education, whose leadership continues to shape impactful reforms across schools in the state ensuring no child is left behind.