Get Guardian on GoogleStakeholders in Kogi Central Senatorial District have called on the state government to prioritize the rehabilitation and modernization of two of its oldest secondary schools—Okene Secondary School (OSS) and Okene Teachers’ College (OTC).
The stakeholders, in a communiqué issued after a meeting in Okene, described the institutions as historic landmarks that have suffered decades of neglect.
They noted that OSS, established in 1944, and OTC, founded in 1974, alongside AbdulAziz Atta Memorial College (AAAMCO), produced generations of scholars, professionals, and public servants who have contributed significantly to Nigeria’s development.
“Classrooms, staff quarters, hostels, and sports facilities are in deplorable condition due to years of neglect,” the communiqué stated. “While previous administrations made partial interventions, the current level of decay demands urgent and comprehensive rehabilitation.”
Signed by Comrade AbdulLateef Obaro, Chairman of the School-Based Management Committee (SBMC), OSS, the communiqué commended Governor Usman Ododo for his early strides in governance, particularly in the education sector, but urged him to visit the schools for an on-the-spot assessment.
The meeting was attended by community leaders, traditional rulers, and members of the OSS Board of Governing Council, led by Engr. Yisah Yakubu Adajah, representatives of OSS Old Students Association (OSSOSA) led by Hon. Yekini Okino, school management officials, youth, and women leaders.
The stakeholders further recommended the creation of a special intervention fund or public–private partnership to transform OSS—with its 32 classrooms, 23 staff quarters, four hostels, and two football pitches—into a model school befitting its historical status.
They stressed that while two new state universities were established by the previous administration, tertiary institutions cannot thrive without a strong foundation in primary and secondary education.
“We are confident that, under your leadership, these schools will once again become symbols of excellence in Kogi’s educational landscape,” the communiqué read.
