Kogi State Strengthens Education Sector with Free Schooling, Increased Funding, Infrastructure Expansion »

Kogi State remains committed to investing heavily and strategically in education to ensure that no child is left behind for financial reasons, while also enhancing its educational infrastructure to build quality human capital.

Speaking on Sunday , the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Hon. Kingsley Fanwo, said the government is dedicated to strengthening the knowledge economy and cultivating a highly resourceful population.

“The New Direction Agenda of the previous administration under His Excellency Alh Yahaya Bello prioritized education by allocating significant funds and establishing specialized institutions,” Fanwo stated. “The Ododo Administration is building on that legacy, ensuring that children from disadvantaged backgrounds have the same educational opportunities as those from wealthier families.”

He emphasized that in Kogi State, education is free from primary through secondary levels, with the government also covering all internal and external examination fees. At the higher education level, bursaries are provided to thousands of students. “Kogi State is outspending 23 other states in education in 2025. When you compare our education budget with our population, it is clear that we are one of the most committed states to education,” Fanwo added.

Fanwo also noted that these initiatives are not temporary. By signing the Education Bill into law, the government has institutionalized policies ensuring that free education up to the secondary level and bursaries at the tertiary level is a legal right for every Kogi child.

“This Education Law guarantees continuity and ensures that future administrations will build on the momentum to make Kogi a true knowledge hub,” he explained.

Highlighting further developments, Fanwo pointed out the strategic establishment of the Confluence University of Science and Technology in Osara and the Kogi State University in Kabba. “These institutions provide new opportunities for thousands of secondary school graduates. With the lowest number of out-of-school children in the North, expanding our higher education system was imperative to opening up new channels of choices for our students”, he said.

He continued, “The Confluence University of Science and Technology was established to produce quality manpower for our rapidly growing industries. Kogi State is rich in mineral resources and, just weeks ago, we broke ground on five gas plants at a single location, the first of its kind in Nigeria. Our three state-owned universities will equip young minds to compete effectively in our industrializing economy.”

Fanwo also highlighted ongoing major construction projects across all tertiary institutions to create more conducive learning environments. He said the success at securing MBBS accreditation for CUSTECH will spark “a radical revolution in healthcare delivery in the state”.

“Apart from the major construction works going on at Kabba such as the Smart Lecture Halls, Senate Building and others; the State Government is almost completing the perimeter fencing of the 100 hectares of land on which CUSTECH is seating. We are also installing security gadgets in all our tertiary institutions to ensure our students are safe”, he said.

Additionally, the Nigerian Korean Friendship Institute is training hundreds of young people in various fields. “A new set of trainees will graduate in the coming weeks, and the state is committed to providing them with the tools they need to stand on their feet and become employers of labour,” he concluded.