Forty missionary schools which were returned by the Delta State Government in 2011 to their owners have received financial grant of N400 million to upgrade their facilities so as to boost teaching and learning in the schools.
Secretary to the State Government, Patrick Ukah, made the presentation of cheques to the beneficiaries in his office in Asaba, the state capital.
Ukah said after the handover of the schools to the owners, the missions appealed to the state government for a grant to enable them run the schools effectively.
He said Governor Ifeanyi Okowa announced the grant last year at the Sixth Synod of the Diocese of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion.
The SSG said the approval was subsequently ratified by the State Executive Council (SEC) for implementation, adding that the gesture was in appreciation of the important role played by the missions in building moral rectitude and peaceful co-existence in the society.
Ukah expressed the hope that the grant would help the missions towards upgrading and running the schools effectively.
He listed the beneficiaries as African Church, Warri Diocese with one school, Anglican Church, Asaba Diocese, with three schools; Anglican Church, Oleh Diocese, two schools and Anglican Church, Ughelli Diocese with one school.
Others are Anglican Church, Warri Diocese, one school, Baptist Church Convention, four schools, Catholic Church, Issele-uku Diocese, 11 schools, Catholic Church Warri Diocese, 15 schools and Catholic Church, Bomadi Vicariate with one school.
Bishop of Warri Catholic Diocese, Bishop Anthony Ewherido, who was represented by Rev. Fr. Christopher Ekabo, thanked the state government for the gesture and prayed God to grant the governor and his team their ambitions and wisdom to enable them to finish strong.
