Kogi spent ₦20b on varsity in two years — Education commissioner

The Kogi State Government has expended over ₦20 billion on the state-owned Kogi State University (KSU) since it was established two years ago.

The state’s Commissioner for Education, Wemi Jones, disclosed this on Thursday in a keynote address at the Professor Mathew Ajibero Memorial Lecture, delivered by Professor Lamidi Kehinde of Kogi State University, Kabba.

“The amount consists of ₦6 billion on administrative blocks, lecture theatres, and classrooms, while ₦8 billion has so far been spent on the Senate building, Faculty of Science, and male and female hostels,” he stated.

The Commissioner noted that the kind of development the university has brought to the Gbeleko host community is unprecedented, considering the massive injection of funds for the institution’s development.

“The university has brought viable commercial activities to Gbeleko community, which happens to be the late Professor Ajibero’s community, and I know Ajibero himself would be grateful to the state government for what has been done for his community through the establishment of Kogi State University, Kabba,” he said.

He further stated that the state government is fully committed to the development of technical education and will continue to support it, having realized the enormous potential technical education holds for the state.

The guest lecturer, Professor Lamidi Kehinde, called on the state government to cultivate the political will to increase funds allocation for vocational education, which he said is the future of the country.

“The era of white-collar jobs is long gone; vocational training is the future that every youth should embrace,” the professor added.

The late Professor Mathew Ajibero was a former Rector of Kogi State Polytechnic.