Education

A University Don and Dean of Student Affairs, Kwararafa University, Wukari, Taraba State, Dr Uzah Thomas said only Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello can put an end to the incessant strike actions by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

Dr Thomas stated this on Friday in a paper he presented at the Civil Society Think Tank Round Table on a Glance into Nigeria’s Future and Governor Yahaya Bello’s Developmental Politics.

In his presentation, Thomas harped on Governor Bello’s giant strides in the education sector in Kogi to buttress his point.

According to him, Bello who is tipped by many Nigerians to run for the office of the President in 2023, upon assuming office as Kogi State Governor in 2015 ended the strike pandemic that has ravaged the university system at the state-owned university now known as Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba for years by pulling the university out of ASUU.

He also established a new specialized university – Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara.

Thomas, in his paper titled ‘Looking into the Future of Nigeria through Governor Yahaya Bello’s leadership Strides in Kogi State’, affirmed that there have been massive investment in the educational sector in the state, with a large chunk of the state budget allocated to education.

“This has consequently reflected in the revamping of schools across the state.

The quality of human resources in the state has improved tremendously by implementing a policy on training and retraining for teachers”.

He argued that “in looking at Nigeria from the Kogi State perspective before the assumption of office by Governor Yahaya Bello, it must be stated that leadership competence is what is required to take the country out of the doldrums. The agitations for zoning based on ethnicity do not stand a chance. This paper concludes that competence should be emphasized.”

Similarly, Prof Ahmed Danfulani, former Director General of National Institute for Peace and Strategy Studies (NIPSS) Kuru, said Governor Bello has set examples that should be amplified and used as a yardstick in assessing candidates that have signified interest in leading Nigeria.

“At the back of our minds, we must be clear about the qualities the next President of Nigeria should possess. This is on the heels that stepping into the shoes of President Muhammadu Buhari is a tedious task,” Danfulani said.

The Kogi State Government has handed over seven project sites to contractors at the Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara, with the promised to make the Institution a world class of learning.

The State Commissioner for Works and Housing, Engr. Abubakar Ohere did the handing over on behalf of the State Government, expressed optimism that the Projects embarked upon by the State Government has a hundred percent of funding.

The project sites are for six faculties and the Senate Building. The faculties are for the building of a Laboratory, Library, School of Medicine, Faculty of Information Technology amongst others.

Engr. Ohere assured that once the issue of technicalities are resolved, the projects he pointed out would witness speedy completion and would meet the required GYB standard.

He expressed confidence that the quality of work would meet with the quality and level of deployment of the infrastructure already at the University.

Engr. Ohere described Gov. Bello’s commitment to making CUSTECH a world class University as unprecedented, pointed out that the Governor has proven to be a rare gem and a National leader.

While promising that the Ministry would not shirk in its monitoring and supervisory role, promised to sustain the confidence the Ministry has maintained in quality service delivery.

Earlier in his remarks, Engr. Kabiru Suleiman, the Consultant to the Project, said efforts would be made to sustain the narrative of maintaining the GYB standard in the seven project like the Civic Center in Lokoja and other landmark projects in the State.

Engr. Suleiman described Education as live wire of developing nation, assures of frequent visits to all the seven projects towards ensuring that CUSTECH becomes a world standard for learning.

In their separate remarks, the, MD of 2, 7,8 Nig. Ltd. Engr Subayeru Ibrahim and the MD Musalib Nig. Ltd expressed their willingness to deliver the project on schedule, pointing out this is the first time they would be embarking on a project that is fully funded before commencement, described it as a measure that underscores Gov. Bello’s commitment to quality and early completion of the work.

Read this by

Rachael Mojirola Balogun

National President,

National Association Of Kogi State Students (NAKOSS NATIONAL).

Rumor has it that ASUU is set for another strike.

The sweet gist is Kogi state owned institutions won’t be part

And it saddens my heart to see Kogi state students schooling in Federal institutions home and away suffering from this prolonged academic calendar. NOT Again 🤦‍♀️

A Scholar once said that ‘If any country want to get it right in absolute development and consistent growth; minimum of 25% or more of the country’s annual budget must be dedicated to the Education Sector’

The good news is this, Kogi state Governor accorded 30% of the state budget to the education sector, which is 4% above that of UNESCO stipulation of 26%, for quality Education to be attained in any country.

Students are watching keenly; 2023 is closer than seen, WE WILL NOT HESITATE TO SUPPORT WHO SUPPORT THE SYSTEM THAT PROTECT OUR PROGRAMS.