By joshua 
From Lokoja to Anyigba: Maigari’s ‘Wakilin Karatu’ Adds to Pattern of Traditional Honours for Prof. Salisu Ogbo Usman
The Maigari of Lokoja’s conferment of the Wakilin Karatu Lokoja title on Prof. Salisu Ogbo Usman is the latest in a string of traditional recognitions earned by the Vice-Chancellor of Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba, for turning around institutions and restoring discipline in education.
A review of Prof. Usman’s record shows the honour is consistent with commendations from other traditional institutions and with measurable reforms he led as Rector of Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, from 2020 to 2026.
Traditional Council s in Kogi Central and Kogi East have previously acknowledged his role in promoting peace, academic integrity, and youth mentorship, citing his open-door leadership style and community engagement while at the polytechnic.
At Kogi Poly, Prof. Usman’s six-year tenure moved the institution from what was once dismissed as a “glorified polytechnic” to a disciplined, infrastructure-upgraded citadel.
For the first time in years, the campus recorded zero cult-related incidents and no violent student protests throughout his tenure. Lecture halls, laboratories, hostels, and administrative blocks were rehabilitated and expanded, improving the learning environment.
Examination malpractices were curbed through policy reforms and technology-driven processes, restoring confidence in the institution’s certificates.
Regular promotion of staff, prompt payment of allowances, and expanded scholarship opportunities improved morale and performance. Both governing councils that served under him issued letters of commendation, noting consistency, dedication, and transparency in his administration. Those outcomes underpin the Maigari’s description of his leadership as “transformational.”
That same approach is already visible at PAAU. Within his first months as Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Usman initiated reforms in academic governance, staff reorientation, and infrastructure planning. His elevation from Rector to VC before completing a second term at the polytechnic was unprecedented in Kogi State, signaling confidence from two successive administrations led by former Governor Yahaya Bello and Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo.
The title Wakilin Karatu Lokoja—Education Ambassador of Lokoja—formally inducts Prof. Usman into the Lokoja Traditional Title Holders’ Council, where he will be addressed as Daudu.
The letter of conferment was delivered by the Secretary of the Lokoja Traditional Council, Mohammad Maikarfi Usman, on Tuesday, 19th May 2026. Receiving the honour, Prof. Usman thanked the Maigari, Alhaji Dr. Ibrahim Gambo Kabir Maikarfi IV, and described Lokoja as a second home. He dedicated the title to Alhaji Yahaya Bello and Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, saying they gave him the platform to serve and be judged by his work.
With a track record of rebuilding institutions and early gains at PAAU, the expectation is clear: an administrator who knows his onions will deliver more of the same at the university level. The conferment ceremony is expected to hold on a date to be announced by the Lokoja Traditional Council.
By Abu Micheal, Publisher, The Nigerian Post Newspaper.