Gov Bello receives CUSTECH Osara establishment report »

Kogi State government has, as part of its commitment to realising its dream of establishing the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH) in Osara, received the report of its ad-hoc committee set up to look into the matter.

Receiving the report in Lokoja on Friday, the Governor applauded the committee members for an excellent job, and promised to implement all of its recommendations as pleaded for by the chairman of the committee, Prof Muhammed Salihu Audu.

The Governor used the opportunity to restate the commitment of his administration to continue to give high priority to the education sector, saying no nation could grow without paying keen attention to educational development.

He said even though Kogi is a subnational state in the Nigerian bation, it is already envisioning a situation where other states of the federation would come to it and learn, and gave the marching orders to the state ministries of education, science and technology and finance, budget and economic planning on the need to accord education nothing less than 20% of the total budget for the next three fiscal years.

Governor Bello was specially full of appreciation for the sacrifices demonstrated by members of the committee whom he described as among the best in the chosen careers in the academia, stressing that his government would continue to put forward only its best to serve the state.

In his opening remarks, the State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon Wemi Jones had earlier applauded the committee for the speed of work in the assignment, saying it demonstrated their commitment and capacity to deliver.

*Gov Bello, his Deputy, Chief Edward Onoja and the committee members with his cabinet members and members of the committee.*
Photo: Oluwatosi Adeniyi

He said the Governor had done noble by recognising such men and woman of substance as people to carry out the seemingly daunting assignment, saying members had had sleepless nights and inconveniences for the sole purpose of delivering on their mandate.

Hon Jones said the assignment by the committee had helped in the realisation of the vision of Governor Bello to reposition the education sector, adding that Kogi State had become a cynosure of all eyes in the comity of the nineteen Northern States of the federation.

Submitting the report, the chairman, Prof Muhammed Salihu Audu said his committee was set up to advise the state government on the appropriate actions to be taken towards the realisation of the institution.

He said the committee developed a model for ease of the task by dividing members into sub-committees to handle matters that concern funding, document planning and site location for the institution who did their assignments to ensure the objectives were achieved.

He expressed gratitude to his members for their show of determination even in the face some disagreements to ensure they meet up with the terms of reference enumerated by government during their inauguration.

The chairman therefore assured the government and people of the state that despite the seldom dissent, there was no minority report by the committee members.

Prof Audu then thanked the government for finding them worthy to serve on the committee, and assured of their preparedness to further serve in any capacity they are demanded of.

The committee which was inaugurated on the 23rd of January 2020 had, as part of its terms of reference; to give justification for the establishment of the university and appropriate name for it; suggest the location of the main campus and other campuses; produce the university’s planning documents; and suggest sources of funding for the university among other terms which the committee surpassed and made recommendations on.