May 31, 2021
Kogi State Government has formally handed over the constructed and renovated facilities, and supplied materials to the management of the newly established Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara, in Adavi LGA of the state.
The State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Wemi Jones, FCIB, while handing over the keys of the facilities to CUSTECH VC on Monday in Osara, expressed his delight to hand over the facilities, and the execution and implementation of the directive of His Excellency at the university.
He commended His Excellency, Gov. Yahaya Bello, for his vision and leadership who have initiated the monumental idea of establishing the CUSTECH.
Jones, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Pastor Emmanuel Idenyi, said that His Excellency was highly interested in the immediate commencement of activities at the university.
”We are happy that the dream of His Excellency that started in December last year has been realized in the open today.
”I am happy because it is glaring that the VC himself and other management and staff of the university are zealous to commence activities.
”As we went round, we are also happy that we saw that some students are already coming in.
”So, today we have come to officially hand over the facilities to the management of CUSTECH.
The Commissioner assured the VC of the Ministry’s continued partnership and good working relationship with the university.
”We are happy and we assure you we are going to work closely with you and support you.
”We are ready to work with you at anytime because the governor so much have confidence in your capability and diligence to do this work”, he said.
The Commissioner added that His Excellency had also approved the construction of two Model Science Secondary Schools at AMCO in Okene and in Lokoja, that would serve as major feed stock for the university in addition to other Kogi students, and from other States would also come.
In his remarks, the CUSTECH Vice Chancellor, Engr. Professor Salawu Sadiku, commended the Governor for his commitment to the reality of the project.
He appreciated the Commissioner and the ministry for always being there for the university as demonstrated right from the beginning.
”We are very happy for the facilities that have been handed over to us in which most have been completed and some have reached advanced stage of completion.
”Inline with the directive of His Excellency, we would now map out our strategies and do all the planning that would be required to complete the remaining jobs or to add value to whatsoever you have given us today”, he said.
The VC noted that coincidentally, the hand over today also marked the beginning of the registration of students that had been offered admission as pioneer students of CUSTETH.
He stressed that it was good that the students’ registration commenced the same day the university management officially took over the facilities.
While assuring that the university management had tried their best to make life easy for the pioneer students and enjoyed some benefits, he appealed to them to learn to cope with some of the present challenges at the campus.
He commended the ministry for her support, saying, ”we want to put on record that the University is really proud of the State Ministry of Education as the parent ministry of CUSTECH.
”We are of course answerable to you, so you can always draw our attention to whatever actions or inactions that you may think necessary to ask us to review.
”We will also not hesitate to draw you into our programmes from time to time with a view to receiving that matured advise and guidance from you”.
The Director Project of the Ministry, Mr Moses Ameh, who conducted the Commissioner and the VC round the facilities, commended the contractors for their efforts and commitments to the projects.
The facilities handed over include: Administrative block, blocks of classrooms, Auditorium, Library, Multipurpose and workshop Laboratories.
Others were ICT centre, School Clinic and Canteen blocks, Boys and Girls Hostel blocks, academic blocks, among others.
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