By; ADAMA JOHN, Lokoja
As Kogi State Polytechnic confers fellowship awards on seven distinguished Nigerians, Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has scored self high, saying he will be leaving the state better than he met it some eight years ago.
The Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr. Salisu Usman Ogbo and six others bagged a fellowship award by the polytechnic for outstanding performance on infrastructure and human capital development.
Others who bagged fellowship of the institution include, Alh. Ozi Salami for sinking several boreholes and for granting scholarship to several students of the polytechnic
Similarly, Barr. Umoru Jimoh of IHS, Prof. Idris M. Bugaji of NBTE and Barr. Moses Azubuike Okafor were also conferred with fellowship of the institution.
Speaking at the Combined Convocation Ceremony for 2013/2014-2022/2023 set of the State Polytechnic, Lokoja, Gov. Bello said that an outstanding achievement of his administration is evidenced in the repositioning of the state polytechnic to challenges of 21st century.
” My achievements can be attested where the state polytechnic was before my assumption of office, where it is now and what we have repositioned it for the future.
”We have taken time to look into the education sector of our people. We made education a top priority in our thematic agenda.
”We not only improved on the infrastructure and learning in our tertiary institutions, but also expanded our educational institution so that our children will not travel far to seek knowledge within four years of our second term administration”. He said
He appreciated the people of Kogi State for his modest contribution by voting for Alhaji Usman Ahmed Ododo as his successor, assuring them that he will consolidate on the gains made by his administration.
The governor commended the chairman of the governing council, staff and students of the polytechnic for their unwavering cooperation that his administration enjoyed.
“I’m indeed very proud of you. I will forever be proud of you”, commended TETFUND and other donor and financial agencies for their contributions to the repositioning of the Polytechnic.
In his remarks, the Rector, Dr. Salisu Usman Ogbo, congratulated Alhaji Usman Ododo for emerging victorious at the polls, saying that his emergence is for the unity and development of the state.
The Rector described his appointment by Gov. Bello as an uncommon privilege and thanked him for finding him worthy to serve.
He said he was able to use his three points agenda of Reform, Restore and Repair to return the lost glory of the polytechnic to one of envy.
The polytechnic, he said, now prides itself as an institution committed to graduating students who are employers of labour in the country.
Prof. Yakubu Isa, Chairman Governing Council said that the polytechnic will continue to prioritize academic and personal development of students and promised that the polytechnic will strive to provide the needed tools and resources for students to continue to succeed.
The governing council chairman praised the state government and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund.
Meanwhile 249 obtained distinctions while 11,080 had Upper, Lower credit and pass.
