Bello gives scorecard on education, other sectors

When Governor Yahaya Bello assumed office in January 2016, he did not leave anybody in doubt of his intention to turn around the fortunes of education in the state for good. Hence education topped his four thematic areas.

Perhaps one of his major achievements was the stabilisation of academic calendar in the state owned tertiary institutions.

He took the bull by the horn by ensuing that students, particularly in state -owned university, former Kogi State University, now Prince Abubakar Audu University, graduate in record time.

To achieve this, the governor engaged the Academic staff Union of Universities, (ASUU), until both parties eventually reached an agreement, thus ending the incessant strikes, which had disrupted academic activities in the state tertiary institutions.

The governor also moved to enhance teaching and learning by investing in infrastructure.
The state Commissioner for Education, Wemi Jones, who disclosed this during a media tour as part of activities to mark the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) press week in Lokoja, said many ultra modern educational facilities are being constructed across the state.

According to Jones, many infrastructural projects are ongoing in the state schools. He added that the teaching hospital at Abubukar Audu University has been equipped to deliver on higher learning.

According to him, all school-age children in the state must attend school as part of efforts to tackle the menace of out-of-school children, saying a law to back it up has been put in place.

The state Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, also reaffirmed Bello’s commitment to revamping the sector.
Fanwo, who reaffirmed the governor’s commitment to revamping education in the state, said his achievements in the sector would, no doubt, outlive him.

He said to ensure effective service delivery in the sector; the governor brought all the parastatals under education closer to accelerate progress.

Under the present administration, more than 2,000 classroom blocks were renovated in both primary and secondary schools in the state. The effort is to give them a face-lift and create conducive environment for teaching and learning; this is in addition to over 100,000 customised desks and chairs distributed to schools across the three senatorial districts as part of education reform, Fanwo added.

He noted that to further boost the sector, the governor established Model Primary Schools across the 239 wards and also established Model Science Secondary Schools in each of the three senatorial districts, including Lokoja, the state capital.

“The secondary schools were built and equipped with state-of-the art teaching and learning materials, including laboratories, classrooms, staff rooms, computer centre and modern sporting facilities, among others.”

To ensure qualitative teaching, especially in newly- established science schools, the governor approved the recruitment of 4,000 teachers.

The governor also constructed 50-bed capacity hostel at the College of Nursing and Midwifery Obangede in Okehi Council of the state.

Other milestones recorded in the education sector include construction of library extension at the College of Education (Technical), Kabba in Kabba-Bunu.

The commissioner said the governor has not only provided needed funds for all the tertiary institutions, he has also provided needed facilities and created conducive environment for learning and teaching through continuous issuance of welfare packages for both teaching and non-teaching staff.

He said: “The result of the effort and commitment of Governor Bello towards education has culminated in 100 per cent accreditation of courses offered in all state-owned higher institutions.

“Aside from accreditation, the institution also emerged 25th out of the 170 public and private universities in Nigeria that have full accreditation for all courses offered.
“Kogi state polytechnic, Lokoja, also achieved 100 per cent success in the recent accreditation exercise conducted by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE),” Fanwo said.

The commissioner said aside from accreditation of courses, one other big achievement of the governor in education is academic stability, as students on resumption know when they would graduate without any disruption.

“This has made higher institutions in the state reliable as students from neighbouring states jostle to gain admission into the state-owned institutions because they are sure of graduating in record time,” the commissioner added.

Also, the Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, established in 1993, had also suffered from poor infrastructure over the years.

For instance, the institution’s clinic allegedly lacked medical personnel to render service to students and staff, while investigations showed that several books in the library were lost to rain due to roof leakages.

Irked by the situation, Bello embarked on renovation and construction of new buildings in the institution.

According to the Rector, Dr. Salisu Oboh Usman, the institution presently boasts of new administrative blocks after 29 years.

He added that the edifice has conveniently provided a befitting office accommodation for staff.

A lecturer in the polytechnic, Mr. Tope Joel, told The Guardian that the 30-bed space health centre with three full-time medical doctors and National Youth Service Corps ((NYSC) members as support medics and nurses has changed things.

“In addition to the new structure provided for the polytechnic, a model security house which gives the security office a facelift was also provided for the institution to tackle insecurity and cultism.
“For effective functioning and running of the institution, the management, through the support of the governor, automated its system in the institution,” Joel added.

The automation, according to him, is to enable the institution optimise resource allocation, reduce cost and manage students’ admissions, registrations, examinations, payment of school fees and release of results, as against the past where students who graduated many years cannot access their original

Vice Chancellor, Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara, Professor Sadiku Salawu, said science and technology are crucial for wealth creation, economic growth and enhancement of standardised living.

To ensure the institution’s rapid growth, he said the governor allocated 30 per cent of the state yearly budget to education, even when the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) recommended only 26 per cent.

Salawu said the governor believes that science and technology is imperative for wealth creation, economic growth and improved living standard.

Two years after its establishment, Salawu said the university is growing rapidly and has bridged the gap for Kogi indigenes that seek admission outside the state and admission seekers from neighbouring states.

He said the university currently has three faculties with 19 courses all duly approved by Nigeria Universities Commission (NUC).

To ensure rapid growth of the university, he stated that Bello did what no other governor in Nigeria has done by allocating 30 per cent of the state annual budget to education even when UNESCO recommended only 26 per cent.

A primary school teacher in Serin Noma primary school, Lokoja, Lawal Adama said: “I can attest that before the governor assumed office, schools were in dilapidated states and begging for attention.

“But today, virtually all classes have been given a face-lift, while renovations are still ongoing in some schools. I am appealing to the governor to also give approval for the recruitment of primary school teachers because most good hands have gone into retirement as a result of years of service.”