From Gold Tunde Rahman, Lokoja
When Goveenor Yahaya Adoza Bello, assumed the mantle of leadership as the Executive Governor of Kogi State in close to eight years ago, he makes his policies and programmes clear and unambiguous. He also makes the citizens his constituency as he prioritizes masses-oriented projects.
He leaves no one in double of his love for education as an enduring legacy that could bequeath on youth of the state, hence, the governor hit ground running to ensure quality education is spread across every nook and corner of the state.
Since Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello assumes office as the executive Governor, he made education at all levels his cardinal priority by remodeling all the higher institutions he inherited from his successors which pundits described as glorified secondary schools. He remodels them to become standard higher institutions of learning that can compete favourably with any higher institutions across the country.
The administration of Governor Bello ensure that modern hostels accommodation and facilities were put in place in virtually all the state-owned higher institutions spreading across the state.
According to the the Rector, Kogi State Polytechnic, Associate Professor Salisu Usman Ogbo, “the Governor have upgraded the state-owned higher institutions from what they called a glorified secondary schools to modern citadel of learning by making available several billions of naira to contruct modern laboratories, dormitories and lecture theatres accoross all state-owned institutions across the 3 senatorial districts of the state.
The Vice Chancellor Kogi State University, Professor Marietu Tenuche, during the NUJ press week in Lokoja, described Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello, as a ‘messiah’ sent to rescue Kogi State University out if its many problems.
“Tertiary institutions in Kogi State were in serious crisis before he resumed office, salaries and allowances were not paid. Staff morales were at its lowest ebb. He came and set up different committees to look into these crisis and they were all resolved accordingly”, he explained.
Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba, a state-owned University, was founded in
1999 by Prince Abubakar Audu, the late former Governor of the state. At the time of its establishment in 2002, it was known as Kogi State University but later named Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU).
When former Governor Ibrahim Idris assumed office, he renamed the University as Kogi State University (KSU) in 2003 but in 2020, Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello, changed the name of the University to Prince Abubakar Audu University to honour the late Governor who founded the institution.
Though the University not as popular as its Federal Government-owned University like the University of Lagos, Obafemi Awolowo University and Ahmadu Bello University, notwithstanding, Kogi State University has been been described by many multinational corporate bodies as one of Africa best Universities, based on the exceptional intellectual pedigree of its
employed graduates.
In January 2017, the university officially dissociated itself from the Academic Staff Union of Universities(ASUU): the umbrella body for academic staff members of Nigerian universities. As such, academic programmes have become stable and fast, without the incessant strike actions characteristic of ASUU-member universities.
It will be interest to note that it is Governor Yahaya Bello’s government that put an end to the incessant strike that used to retard universities education system in the state.
The University was to have campuses in each of the three senatorial districts, this cannot be achieved due to financial and other logistic reasons beyond the late Governor’s control. The intention for the establishment of the institution, not only but among other things to reduce enormous stress encountered by Kogi indigenes seeking admissions into higher institutions.
To further spread development to every nook and corner of the state, the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara was established on November 10th, 2020. Its establishment to bridge up the gaps in science and technology and to serve the nation’s drive for much-needed self-reliance in Science, Engineering and especially Technology.
Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara, is the brainchild of the present Government of Kogi State under the watch of Governor Yahaya Bello. The dream, it was said came to being, out of the burning desire to relieve citizens of Kogi State of the
recurrent ordeal of their admissions into Nigerian Universities thus providing secondary school leavers of the State opportunities to pursue careers in science and technology related specializations.
When Stories of Kogi State indigenes scoring impressively highmarks in UTME, yet finding it difficult to secure admissions into Medicine, Engineering, Pharmacy and a host of other professional programmes have increasingly become traumatising, then the search for opportunities to assuage this annual nerve-wracking experience still relying on the limited admission spaces in the tertiary institutions of the State and the country in general had become a mere mirage.
Hence, the establishment of CUSTECH, the ultimate purpose for its establishment by the Kogi State Government is to widen the spectrum of opportunities for the younger generation to meet the challenges of the future, achieve self-actualization and maximally contribute their quotas to national development.
It is worthy of mention to state that Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara, took-off with Faculty of Computing & Informatics which offers Computer related Courses, Faculty of Engineering which also offers core Engineering Courses and Faculty of Science that
offers Pure and Applied Science Courses.
When agitation for fairness and justice came up, and keeps growing, as a listening governor, he sees the need to give sense of belonging to to every Kogi Indigene, hence, the establishment of another state University.
Giving the high pedigree for academic excellence by the people of Kogi West Senatorial district the Governor sighted the University in Kabba, headquarters of Kogi West senatorial district. The University was to among others bring about both political and social balance to to the state.
After series of debates by stakeholders, the establishment of the University began with an announcement and immediately took-off in Kogi West senatorial district, christened Kogi State University, Kabba. The initial take-off fund was N20Billion with a powerful committee put in place to supervise the smooth take-off.
On June 26, ,2023, the National Universities Commission (NUC), approved the establishment of Kogi State University, Kabba, as the 62nd state Universities and the 265th Universities in the country.
The University will soon commence academic activities by November this year. The state government under the watch of Governor Yahaya Bello is working round the clock to ensure that the institution commences academic activities.
In the light of this, efforts of the Bello’s government had began to earn encomium as Kogi residents have began to applaud the state government for its masses-oriented projects.
In his reaction, the Chairman, Nigerian Union of Journalists(NUJ) Kogi State Council, described the Kogi state University, Kabba, as one of the best projects executed by the present administration and imployed the people of the district to take ownership of the project.
Also in his submission, a Kogi State Veteran Commentator, Comrade Ebwnezer Adurodija, said during a book review in Lokoja, pointed out that Governor Yahaya Bello, had emerged as a radical Governor with innovative ideas that have positioned him as a proponent of early thinkers’ leadership theories.
He said the Governor had implemented the EBIGO policy which stands for the major ethnic groups in the state: Ebira, Igala, and Okun which has resulted in the fair distribution of amenities and a balanced approach to appointments, ensuring justice and fairness.
Governor Bello’s approach, according to him, is guided by the new direction agenda, a compass
crafted by the government that was upgraded for his second term in office and
christened ‘Let’s Do More’.
“He has made it clear that he will not take any risk with the welfare and future of the people of Kogi State. Governor Yahaya Bello’s visionary approach focused on five pivotal areas:
agriculture, tourism, industry, health, and education.
“To bolster agricultural
production and productivity, he has implemented measures such as facilitating
improved access to credit, modernising farming techniques, and encouraging
private sector investments.
“Kogi State, under the leadership of Governor Yahaya Bello, has been
prioritising education to empower its citizens and lay the foundation for sustainable development.
“The state has established several prestigious universities, such as Prince Abubakar Audu University in Anyigba, which has attracted thousands of aspiring students. These institutions have achievedm100 per cent accreditation, demonstrating their commitment to providing qualityeducation and training.
“The Confluence University of Science and Technology,Osara, is another notable institution that aims to promote science and technological education. The government’s commitment to investing in education and fostering innovation has made these institutions highly sought-after by students and employers.
“The establishment of a general-purpose university in Kabba, located in the Western Senatorial District of the state, Establishment and funding of state Universities in each of the 3 senatorial districts is not only giving sense of belonging to everyone but its also serve as economic pivot for the state”, he enthused.
Culled from The Herald on Sunday Newspaper of 10 September 2023
