Ododo Hails Reforms as Kogi Poly Graduates 6,824 Students at 5th Convocation »

Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening tertiary education, as Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, held its 5th Combined Convocation Ceremony.

The ceremony, held at the institution’s main campus in Lokoja, celebrated graduands from the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 academic sessions. The governor was represented at the event by his deputy, Comrade Joel Salifu Oyibo.

In his address, Governor Ododo described the convocation as a reaffirmation of the importance of education as the most reliable pathway to personal advancement, institutional relevance and sustainable development.

He commended the Governing Council, management, staff and students of the Polytechnic for sustaining academic traditions and restoring stability to the institution. According to him, the reduction from ten combined sets at the previous convocation to just two sets at the current ceremony reflects improved academic regularity and purposeful leadership.

The governor congratulated the graduands for successfully completing their National Diploma and Higher National Diploma programmes, urging them to remain worthy ambassadors of the institution.
He noted that the Polytechnic, established in 1992 by the late Prince Abubakar Audu, has continued to serve as a foundation for technical education and manpower development in the state.

Ododo stated that his administration had sustained reforms in the education sector, including uninterrupted academic calendars across tertiary institutions, improved infrastructure, enhanced security, and better staff and student welfare.
He highlighted key interventions at the Polytechnic, including the installation of solar-powered streetlights, fencing of the Itakpe campus, deployment of CCTV cameras, implementation of the new national minimum wage, and sustained bursary payments to students.

The governor also commended the Federal Government and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for their contributions to infrastructural development, staff training, and research support in the institution.

He noted that all academic programmes in the Polytechnic now enjoy full accreditation status, with the introduction of nineteen new programmes designed to meet emerging technological and manpower needs.

Governor Ododo further praised the completion of the 1,000-seat lecture theatre, a project abandoned for over sixteen years, describing it as a symbol of continuity and accountability.

He explained that the appointment of the Rector, Professor Salisu Ogbo Usman, as Vice-Chancellor of Prince Abubakar Audu University was based on his performance and contributions to the transformation of the Polytechnic.

Earlier in his address, the Rector, Professor Usman, announced that a total of 6,824 students graduated at both National Diploma and Higher National Diploma levels.

He disclosed that 3,892 students graduated with National Diploma, while 2,932 earned Higher National Diploma certificates. The Rector added that 117 students graduated with distinctions across both categories.

Professor Ogbo said the convocation marked the consolidation of reforms implemented under his administration, particularly in restoring academic stability, improving security, achieving full programme accreditation, and expanding the institution’s academic offerings.

He noted that the Polytechnic had overcome major challenges, including cult-related violence, infrastructural decay, and accreditation crises, through deliberate reforms anchored on the institution’s “3Rs” mission of Repair, Reform and Restore.

The Rector added that all academic programmes of the institution now enjoy full accreditation, while several new programmes have been introduced in engineering, agriculture, management, and technology-related fields.

He also highlighted key achievements, including the adoption of e-governance systems, improved examination processes, research breakthroughs, partnerships with federal institutions, and the establishment of new directorates to strengthen institutional administration.

Professor Ogbo expressed appreciation to the state government for its continued support, noting that the convocation represented a transition from institutional recovery to stability and sustainable growth.

Highpoint of the event was the commissioning of key projects, including the School of Preliminary Studies, Lecture Room 3 at Itakpe, the Itakpe Campus Fence Project, the 1,000-Seat Lecture Theatre, the Office Technology and Management Building, the Computer-Based Test (CBT) Extension, and the School of Communication Building, by the Deputy Governor onbehalf of Governor Ododo.

The ceremony also featured the conferment of Fellowship Awards on Governor Ododo, former Governor Abubakar Audu, the state accountant General, Dr. Habibat Oyiza Tijani Onumoko, and other distinguished individuals by the Polytechnic Management in recognition of their outstanding contributions and lasting impact on the institution’s growth.