By joshua Igala Students Honour Hon. Umar Yahaya ‘Connect’ With Award of Excellence For People-centred Representation
… It Was Well Deserved – Students Celebrate Omala Lawmaker’s Touch of Impact
By Abu Micheal
It was an award well deserved and without mincing words, a true reflection of people-centred representation.
Shortly after today’s plenary session, the lawmaker representing Omala State Constituency, Hon. Umar Yahaya, popularly known as “Connect,” was honoured with an Award of Excellence by the Igala Students Association (ISA), Federal University Lokoja Chapter, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to education and community development.
The award, presented by the leadership of the association, specifically recognized his consistent support for Igala students across primary, secondary and tertiary institutions, as well as his exemplary leadership, selfless service and significant contributions to the unity, development, empowerment and advancement of Anè Igala and Kogi State at large.
Presenting the award, the students described Hon. Yahaya as a bridge builder whose interventions in education and youth empowerment have gone beyond rhetoric to practical impact.
But to understand why ISA, Federal University Lokoja, and indeed Omala people call him “Connect,” you must look at his scorecard since taking office in the Kogi State House of Assembly.
Hon. Yahaya has broken traditional political stereotypes by balancing tangible capital infrastructure with direct human development.
1. Education – His First Priority:
He runs a regular free JAMB registration programme for hundreds of students across the 11 wards to boost enrollment, and in 2025/2026 alone provided more than 400 JAMB forms annually. Under his academic reward program, he grants N1 million scholarships to top JAMB scorers from Omala, such as Benjamin Alefia Josiah and others, covering university upkeep and tuition.
Just on October 10, 2026, he unveiled a N6 million education support scheme for 101 students – N50,000 each for 100 students across public and private schools and N1 million reserved for the highest-scoring UTME candidate from Omala. The scheme included distribution of over 5,000 educational materials, including exercise books, Mathematics and English textbooks, school bags and writing materials.
He has also sponsored the education of 27 students across various tertiary institutions in Kogi State, launched a Computer Training Program equipping students with digital literacy and distributing over 30 laptops, and facilitated classroom renovations and learning materials to primary and secondary schools.
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, through Commissioner for Education Wemi Jones, recently commended him for investing in children’s future, noting that his initiative complements the state’s free education policy.
2. Healthcare & Infrastructure:
He financed and is constructing a vital cottage hospital in the Ogodu District to reduce maternal mortality, pushed for the Abejukolo township road construction, and launched clean water initiatives providing dual-purpose and motorized boreholes across all eleven wards of Omala, including the Egbachi borehole project.
He installed solar-powered lights in worship centres and villages to enhance security, constructed a new police station in Ibado-Akpacha and distributed operational motorcycles to local security agencies.
3. Empowerment & Legislation:
He has empowered over 400 individuals across wards with cash and farming tools, supported youth and women with skills training, starter packs and appointments, and supported farmers with inputs.
In the Assembly, he is known for proactive legislative engagement. In 2025, stakeholders commended him for sponsoring landmark bills on free maternal and neonatal healthcare, local content, and environmental sanitation. The Bill for Free Maternal and Neonatal Healthcare Services for Pregnant Women and Newborns in state-owned facilities, sponsored by him, was passed into law in October 2025.
For these impacts, he was named Best Lawmaker of the Year 2024.
Receiving the latest award from Igala students, the lawmaker expressed profound gratitude.
According to him, “I am not the best yet, my little contribution was recognized, so this award will definitely encourage me to do more, InshaAllah.”
He dedicated the award to the good people of Omala State Constituency and to all Igala sons and daughters striving for a better Kogi State, assuring that the recognition will spur him to sustain his commitment to education, youth development and the unity of Anè Igala.
The honour, observers note, is a testament to a representation that places people at the centre – a representation that connects, listens, supports, and delivers.