Education

…to procure 3 modern fire trucks, ratify projects

The Kogi State government has announced the approval of a state university, proposed to be located in the Kogi western senatorial district, attesting that the essence amongst many other things was the need to provide more educational facility for young university hopeful in the state.
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Making the announcement, the state Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Wemi Jones hinted that the process would involve the inauguration of a 15-man implementation

Committee, made up of Professors from all over Kogi State. He said the committee would be given the responsibility of drafting the university law, academic brief and the master plan adding that they would also be saddled with the task of recommending a suitable location and whether the university would be specialised or conventional.

The commissioner said ‘’It is expected that the committee will give its report within the next one month from the inauguration so that we can move as fast as possible as it would be the government’s desire to see the university kick off before the end of this tenure’’

Giving an instance the Commissioner narrated that during the last admission exercise at the Prince Abubakar Audu University there was a population explosion of prospective intakes as the school had over 25,000 admission seekers as against capacity intake of about 6,000 noting that even indigenes of the state were possibly deprived of admission or their intended course of study.

He recalled that one of the primary reason for the establishment of Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara was to mitigate the challenge of the state’s qualified students, not gaining admission to courses of their choices because of the fact that Kogi is regarded as a state that is educationally advantaged

According to him, Kogi West is blessed with tones of academia and highly known for education, hence putting a university in Kogi West, particularly Okun land is so apt

The Commissioner asserted that funding has been and would always be a challenge but the government decided to take the bull by the horn and make such audacious move, while he assured that the 15-man committee would be mandated to make recommendations on sources of funding for the approved institution

In his own briefing, the Commissioner for Works, Simon Bako hinted that the state Executive Council approved the procurement of 3 modern fire trucks as part of plans to ensure rapid responses and salvage any possible fire outbreak in the state.

He also noted that the Council received reports and ratified some of the ongoing projects across the state including the construction of internal roads at the Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara, itakpe – Okene – Total road which has both reached advanced stage of completion. The council also ratified additional work for Okene Township Road and the school of Nursery and Midwifery Obangede.

Speaking also, the Chief Press Secretary, Onogwu Muhammed reiterated that the state government under the leadership of Governor Bello has remained consistent in delivering on the infrastructural development pledge made to the people of the state assuring that ongoing projects would be completed in due course.

The Human Capital Development expert and consultant, Dr. Victoria Daaor has urged the state Governors in the North-Central to buy into the idea of the school adoption and mentorship program of Kogi State.

The Human Capital Development expert made the appeal during the north-central Human Capital Development Regional Conference at Lafia, Nasarawa State

She stated that the state government and the ministry of education can reach out and appeal to the well meaning and the spirited individuals within the state to come invest in education that education is a very large and very complex project that only state can’t do alone

The expert stressed that recently, the Kogi State Government launched School Adoption and mentorship program through the ministry of education, Science and Technology and the program has impacted on the education growth in kogi state, pointing out that many philanthropist in the state have invested millions of naira to education through the program

We are pleased with yet another milestone out of our College of Nursing and Midwifery, Obangede. A couple of years ago we helped the institution achieve 100% accreditation of all courses offered with the various regulatory bodies, now we have added to the kitty with an HND in Nursing and Midwifery.

An important corollary to this achievement is that with the removal of the dichotomy between HND and formal university degrees by the Federal Government of Nigeria, our graduates from this course will be getting the equivalent of a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing and Midwifery from any of the mainstream universities – only more hands-on and practical oriented.

It is important to us as an Administration to continuously expand both choice and access to academic opportunities for our youngsters in Kogi State, especially in the STEM courses. This always requires that we make significant investments in infrastructure and equipment in order to meet the instructional parameters for the various courses, but it is an obligation which we have happily embraced, not just in this school but in all our tertiary institutions across the State.

We consider such expenditure part of our suite of legacy projects in Education and we happily undertake them because they will continue to positively impact generations of young Kogites long after we have left the stage. It is also an ongoing transfer of our New Direction Blueprint from paper to practice.

In the same vein, we are working overtime to secure full accreditation of Medicine and Surgery at Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba before we hand over. To this end we have built and adequately equipped the PAAU Teaching Hospital located in the same town. It will give me great joy indeed when that one materializes soon.

The Confluence University of Science and Technology which we founded is also breaking new grounds daily – from new infrastructure to new courses to new facilitates for learning and recreation designed to enhance the whole study experience in the burgeoning university community.

To God be the Glory!

YAHAYA BELLO

Governor of Kogi State

Good education is the key to success in any given society, the Governor Yahaya Bello’s Administration had given importance to good quality education for all her citizenry.

His government’s sole aim had been to ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning.

The New Direction Administration initiative had been to produce articulated and skilled manpower necessary for a sustainable development and economic transformation of the State. Governor Bello’s unflinching commitment to the development of education in the State has remained true to course, by systematically improving the capacity of professional teachers and learning aids.

The first phase of the ongoing recruitment exercise of teachers in Kogi State came to an end with one thousand shortlisted candidates for the Technical Education and Teaching Service Commission to strengthen the capacity of Public School teachers in the State. Through the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, on Wednesday, the 15th of February 2023, the Kogi State Government conducted an orientation and induction program for the newly recruited teachers across the State.

The employment was based on merit after a rigorous aptitude test and oral interview of about eighteen thousand applicants across the State. The recruitment exercise was adjudged the most transparent, fair, and justifiable, which scored unprecedented marks in recruiting excellent minds devoid of political, religious, or primordial sentiment associated with the past.

Education is the bedrock of any development a society can yearn for. 

It is in realisation of this important role of education, that Governor Yahaya Bello set his priority right from the very beginning as to what he wanted to achieve for the people of Kogi State. Six years down the line this concerted efforts of his administration has started bearing fruits.

The climax of this well focused attention to make the state owned higher institutions a shinning example to other states culminated into the hundred percent accreditation of courses offered there.

At a press conference to herald the sixth convocation of Prince Abubakar Audu University formerly known as Kogi State University, Ayingba, in January, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Mariyetu Tenuche, said all the 48 courses offered in the university have secured full accreditation from Nigeria Universities Commission, making it the first time ever since the establishment of the institution.

Aside this feat, the Vice Chancellor also said the institution emerged 25th out of the 170 public and private universities in Nigeria that have full accreditation for all courses offered.

The state owned polytechnic in Lokoja also shared from the joy of full accreditation of all courses offered at the institution.

Dr Salisu Ogbo, the Rector of the institution, broke the news of the achievement when he visited the Kogi State Commissioner forEducation, Mr Wemi Jones, to present the results of the accreditation of all courses at the institution by the NBTE.

Ogbo said: “I’m proud to announce that Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja achieved 100 percent success at the recent accreditation exercise conducted by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).”

He attributed the resounding success to Bello’s unflinching commitment to the development of education in the state.

Another regulatory body, the National Commission for Colleges of  Education (NCCE), also found the two state owned colleges of education namely College of Education Ankpa and College of Education Technical, Kabba worthy of full accreditation of the courses offered by them.

In the case of the College of Education, Ankpa, the Provost, Professor Muhammed Kabiru Ibrahim, said the accreditation of all courses is the first ever in the history of the college.

The Provost disclosed that out of 32 courses presented to NCCE, all the courses that got full accreditation will be valid from 2022 to 2027.

Prof. Mohammed noted that aside the accreditation of courses in the College, the National Commission for Colleges of Education looked at governance, Infrastructure in the College, expressed appreciation with what was on the ground, thus making the College to get full accreditation in terms of institutional accreditation.

He said unlike in 2012 when courses in the college were last presented for accreditation, said out of the 29 courses that were presented then, only 9 got full accreditation.

The Provost said the feat achieved by the College to enjoy full accreditation for all the 32 courses presented could not have been achieved without the support of Gov. Bello, stating that the Governor gave approval for the recruitment of academic staff to fill the exiting gaps.

He added further that the Governor also released money for the purchase of educational resources, in terms of books, chemicals, reagent and furniture, an action that led to the college inviting the National Commission of  Colleges of Education to come for the accreditation.

The story is not different at the College of Education Technical, Kabba, 17 courses offered at the College got full accreditation in 2017 a year into Governor Yahaya Bello’s administration.

What entices the Provost of the institution, Mrs Olusola Victoria Jagboro most is the partial movement of the institution to it’s permanent site.

According to her,  the state government under Governor Yahaya Bello has completed 10 buildings at the permanent site now and

one big bus also given.

Worried by the gap created by the number of Kogi indigenes seeking admission yearly and the number that got admitted, Governor Yahaya Bello established the Confluence University of Science and Technology, (CUSTECH), Osara in year 2020 and appointed a renowned Engineer and academic per Excellence, Professor Sadiku Salawu as the Vice Chancellor

Barely, two years of existence, the university is a growing concern and has bridged the gap for Kogi indigenes seeking admission and even admission seekers from neighbouring states.

The university currently has three faculties with nineteen courses running and all duly approved by Nigeria Universities Commission.

In looking at the attention of Governor Yahaya Bello to health training institutions, the two in the state namely, School of Health Technology, idah and College of Nursing, Obangede were highly favored.

The School of Health Science and Technology, Idah came alive owing to the support given to the institution by Governor Bello’s administration.

Governor Yahaya Bello demonstrated his visionary prowess proactively by being emphatic on the subject and directed at the last Exco the immediate recruitment of qualified teachers and the recall of retired but agile, competent and willing teachers to boost and Improve the quality of education at the foundation level in Kogi State.

Status: completed. GYB Model Science Secondary School, Lokoja, Kogi Stat.

Education is the bedrock of development and the building block for nations.

It plays a pivotal role in increasing knowledge and skills, which in turn lead to increased productivity and the economic advancement of the society.

Over the years, the quality of education in our country, particularly in our public schools have been on the decline due to low levels of investments and quality assurance in the education sector.

The Nigerian educational sector is currently facing a lot of challenges that require serious and urgent attention. Some of the key challenges facing the educational sector in Nigeria range from poor funding, outdated teaching materials, and a dearth of qualified personnel. In addition, Nigeria has the highest number of out-of-school children in the world. This situation needs to be addressed urgently to avert the future negative impact of a generation of uneducated citizens in a knowledge-based world.

Video update 1.

Video update 2.

KOGI SSG RETURNS TO CLASSROOM AS A PART-TIME LECTURER

Kogi State Governor, His Excellency Yahaya BELLO has oftentimes encouraged and charged all stakeholders in the state to contribute their quota to the development of education in the state.

On his directive, appointees of the Governor and other government officials have been contributing meaningfully to improving education in Kogi state. Their interventions include organizing Science Quiz Competition across secondary Schools, distributing learning materials, payment of WAEC, NECO, and JAMB fees including payment of school fees for indigent students.

This intervention is yielding accelerated results. Kogi has leapfrogged from 23 positions in 2010 to 15 in 2018 in WAEC rating and has moved ahead of 6 states by 2020.

In the 2022 JAMB examination result, not less than 17 students from Kogi State scored above 300/400 with the overall candidate from Ebira Community Secondary School Ogaminana scoring 330. 90% of these students took part in the Inter-School Quiz Competition organized by Pharm Abdulkareem Asuku Youths Empowerment Foundation (PAAYEF), the brainchild and initiative of the Chief of Staff to the Governor

Today, the Secretary to the Government of Kogi State, Folashade Ayoade Arike, Ph.D., a doctorate holder in Biochemistry has taken up a part-time lecturing programme at the Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara.

As you can see, She is currently taking students in Chemistry which is one of her core courses.

While the Government is providing infrastructure, creating enabling learning and teaching environment, increase and improving manpower in the education sector, his appointees are also providing auxiliary support.

You can see the joy on the faces of the students; they are highly motivated to learn seeing the SSG standing and lecturing them.

This is what we do in Kogi State.

GYB Model Secondary Schools carry quality that is unprecedented in Kogi State.

 

Typical Classroom Interior in one of Governor Yahaya Bello’s GYB Model Schools.