Institutionalize discipline in higher institutions, Gov. Bello tasks lecturers »

… Commends Dr. Usman Ogbo for sustaining academic excellence and curbing insecurity in KSP

Governor Yahaya Bello has commended the Rector of Kogi State Polytechnic, Dr Usman Ogbo, for maintaining academic excellence and curbing insecurity in the institution at an event held at Kafas Hall Lokoja to commemorate the Rector’s 50th birthday. He described Dr Usman as an iconic personality whose laudable achievements have redefined academic excellence at the Polytechnic.

Bello who was represented by his chief of staff, Pharm Abdulkareem Asuku, made the known while speaking to guests at Dr Usman’s golden jubilee birthday celebration and book launch.

The governor pointed out that Dr. Ogbo has recorded significant strides in the management of the Polytechnic, noting that the Rector has distinguished himself enough to be counted as one of the positive faces of the government through education and charged other public and political officer holders to emulate Dr Usman in promoting the New Direction Agenda .

Governor Bello speaking further pointed out that the achievement of Dr Usman Ogbo as Rector has surpassed the achievements of his predecessors and thanked him for living the opposite of the rumours swirled around him prior to his appointment as rector of the polytechnic. He therefore thanked Dr Usman for being steadfast in doing what is right without compromising on grounds of religion, ethnicity and sentiment.

The governor used the opportunity to appeal to professors and lecturers to institutionalize discipline in tertiary institutions across the country. He noted that teachers have a pivotal role to play in achieving this and therefore advised students to Shun cultism, drug abuse and other vices and to be good ambassadors of the country.

The keynote speaker at the event, Prof, Mohammed Suleiman Audu, in his lecture titled “The Slave and the Slave Master: A Metaphor of the Federal Government and ASUU,” compared the Nigerian educational system to the relationships between slaves and slave masters in the 15th century. He condemned the exploitation of slave masters over slaves (Federal Government and ASUU) and proposed that education be prioritized in the country’s budget for a better Nigeria.

Prof, Audu further noted that education is critical to national development and that it must be prioritized. He posited that ASUU has gone on strike 16 times in the last 23 years, with negative consequences for the country ranging from disruptions in the academic calendar to inconsistencies in the learning process, demotivation, increases in financial costs, and many others.

The Federal University Lokoja Don therefore suggested that in order to end the slave and slave master relationship, ASUU should reconsider its tactics or the federal government should take a second look at the issues while proffering a permanent solution to the misnomer.

In his goodwill message to Dr Usman Ogbo, The Deputy Governor Chief David Onoja, represented by his Chief of Staff Hon Sunday Falake, commended the rector on how well he has managed the institution and transformed it into a world-class citadel of learning. He therefore prayed to God for more life and knowledge to accomplish more.

In his speech, the celebrant, Dr Salisu Ogbo Usman thanked God for the opportunity to celebrate his golden jubilee. He thanked his parents for the sacrifices they made to ensure his success today and thanked the organizers for choosing to honour him.

He appreciated governor Yahaya Bello for appointing him as Rector of the Kogi State Polytechnic without ethnic or tribal sentiment.

Dr Usman also thanked friends, associates, and well-wishers for making the time to come and honour him, and stated that what has kept him thus far has been accountability, which has been his watchword.

Dr Ogbo, in what he calls the “Silent Revolution,” in Kogi state Polytechnic attributed all the successes to the free room given to him by the governor to operate, adding that more of the giant strides were on the way and promised not to disappoint.

While reeling out his strong reasons to have supported governor Bello in his 2019 reelection bid disclosed that the progress seen at the state’s polytechnic is all attributed to Gov Yahaya Bello’s new direction leadership style, particularly the priority he has placed on education.

The event was attend by academics across the country, Kogi state government appointees, speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly, traditional rulers, youths and students, women groups and other well wishers.