By Fr. Michael Nsikak Umoh
The Catholic Archdiocese of Benin City has vehemently denied claims made by Senator Adams Aliu Oshiomhole that St. Philomena College of Nursing Sciences is government-owned. According to Rev. Fr. Jude Orah, Director of Social Communications and Press of the Archdiocese, the college is fully owned by the Archdiocese and has been built, equipped, and funded through the sacrificial giving of the Church, labour of priests and religious sisters, goodwill of donors, and modest service charges. This clarification became necessary in response to misleading statements made by Senator Oshiomhole during a live broadcast on Arise News, where he claimed that the college was “built, equipped, and owned and funded by Edo State Government hundred percent.”
However, Fr. Orah emphasised that this claim is entirely false and should be disregarded. Citing the institution’s history, the Communication’s Director noted that St. Philomena Catholic Hospital was founded in 1947 by Catholic missionaries (precisely the sisters of Our Lady of Apostles {OLA]), as part of the Church’s apostolic mandate to heal, educate, and uphold human dignity. The Archdiocese has been sustaining the institution through its resources and donations from benefactors, including a recent donation of ₦15 million from Mr. Peter Obi.
The Archdiocese has demanded that Senator Oshiomhole retract his statement and consult directly with them for accurate information in the future. Fr. Orah emphasised the importance of truth and civic maturity, urging Nigerians to critically evaluate public statements and demand accountability for information disseminated in the public domain. Archdiocese of Benin City believes that spreading false information can be damaging to the integrity of long-standing institutions like St. Philomena Catholic Hospital.
In light of this, the Archdiocese has called on media organisations to fact-check every claim, especially those aired publicly, to prevent the spread of misleading narratives. By doing so, the public can be better informed, and institutions like St. Philomena can continue to serve the society without being subjected to false claims and misinformation.
