5th Convocation: Kogi Poly Graduates 6,824 Students as Rector Reels Out Six Years of Reforms »

Kogi State Polytechnic on Thursday held a press briefing ahead of its 5th Combined Convocation Ceremony, with the Rector, Professor Salisu Ogbo Usman, presenting a comprehensive account of reforms, infrastructural development and academic milestones recorded under his six-year administration.

Addressing journalists at the 1,000-seat lecture theatre at the main campus in Lokoja, Professor Ogbo described the event as particularly significant, noting that it would be his last convocation as Rector, following his recent appointment as Vice-Chancellor of Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba, by the Kogi State Government.

He recalled assuming office as Acting Rector in April 2020 at a time when the Polytechnic was grappling with deep institutional challenges, including insecurity, cultism, dilapidated infrastructure, weak governance structures, prolonged accreditation crises and a backlog of convocation ceremonies. According to him, these realities informed the adoption of the administration’s guiding philosophy of Repair, Reform and Restore (3R).

Professor Ogbo expressed gratitude to former Governor Yahaya Bello for laying the foundation for the reforms and to the incumbent Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, for renewing his appointment and sustaining support for the institution. He also appreciated the Governing Council, staff, students and the media for their cooperation throughout his tenure.

The Rector announced that a total of 6,824 students would graduate at the convocation, drawn from the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 academic sessions. This comprises 3,892 National Diploma (ND) and 2,932 Higher National Diploma (HND) graduands.

According to the breakdown, 51 ND students and 66 HND students are graduating with distinctions. Professor Ogbo said the distribution of results reflects improved academic discipline, integrity in examinations and enhanced teaching and learning outcomes.

Highlighting academic reforms, the Rector said the Polytechnic introduced secure statement of result templates, deployed e-examination, e-results and e-payment systems, and established committees to handle examination misconduct and results verification. These measures, he noted, have improved transparency, reduced errors and ensured timely release of results.

He also disclosed that the institution achieved 100 per cent accreditation for all its programmes following NBTE visitations in 2022 and 2024, ending years of accreditation uncertainty. Several new programmes, including ND Mass Communication, ND Mechatronics Engineering Technology and various HND engineering programmes, were also introduced and accredited.

In addition, the Polytechnic established the School of Agricultural Technology at Itakpe, now fully operational with accredited programmes, and strengthened library and e-library resources to support teaching and research.

Professor Ogbo said the institution recorded massive infrastructural renewal through TETFund and state government interventions, including lecture theatres, laboratories, workshops, academic offices, hostels, hostels’ renovation, perimeter fencing of the Itakpe Campus, drainage systems and ongoing construction of modern laboratory complexes.

Administratively, he announced the creation and upgrading of several directorates, including Quality Assurance, Research and Innovation, Legal Services, Public Relations and Protocol, Career Development Services, and Entrepreneurship and Skills Development, aimed at strengthening governance and efficiency.

On staff welfare, the Rector revealed that outstanding promotions from 2014 to 2022 were fully implemented and cash-backed, while salaries are paid promptly. He said 998 staff were recruited between 2020 and 2026 to address manpower gaps, bringing the total workforce to 1,911.

He added that ₦816.8 million in TETFund interventions was accessed for staff training and research, while over 250 staff are currently on study leave with pay. Earned academic allowances were also cleared up to the 2024/2025 session in affected schools.

For students, Professor ogbo highlighted improvements in water supply, provision of an ambulance, completion of the Students’ Union Building, regular conduct of SUG elections, and relocation of students’ centres to more conducive locations.

The Rector said the administration adopted a zero-tolerance approach to cultism, examination malpractice and other social vices. He listed the construction of a modern security house, installation of CCTV cameras, improved campus lighting, perimeter fencing and collaboration with security agencies as part of measures that restored safety on campus.

He disclosed that between 2020 and January 2026, 107 security threats were detected and neutralised, significantly improving confidence within the Polytechnic community.

Professor Ogbo also announced the formal establishment of the Kogi State Polytechnic Alumni Association, which has already executed projects within the campus. He noted that the institution successfully organised its first inaugural lecture and signed a strategic MoU with the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) to support advanced engineering programmes.

In his concluding remarks, the Rector said the administration is leaving behind no abandoned projects and no backlog of results, describing this as a testament to fiscal discipline and effective governance. He called on stakeholders to support the next leadership in sustaining the gains of the 3R agenda.

“As we draw the curtain on our stewardship, we submit our record to the judgment of history and the media,” he said, while expressing gratitude to God, the Kogi State Government and all stakeholders for their support.