joshua
Kogi govt spends N20 billion on Varsity in two years, says Education Commissioner, Wemi Jones.
The Kogi state government has so far spent N20 billion since the establishment of the state owned University, Kogi State University Kabba in two years.
The state Commissioner for Education Wemi Jones disclosed this on Thursday in a keynote address delivered at the Professor Mathew Ajibero’ memorial lecture delivered by Professor Lamidi Kehinde of the Kogi State University, Kabba. The memorial lecture was organized by the Nigerian Korea Friendship Institute of Vocational and Advanced Technology.
The theme of the Memorial lecture is “The Capacity of Entrepreneurship and Vocational Education”, was also used to unveil a Strategic action plan for the institution.
The lecture drew eminent personalities like former Gov Idris Ichalla Wada and scholars like Prof. Olugbemiro Jegede, former Secretary to the State Government and Chief Sylvester Onoja, one time education Commissioner in the State.
“The amount the Education Commissioner said consists of N6 billion on administrative block, lecture theatres and class rooms while N8 billion he said will be spent on Senate building, faculty of science, male and female hostels.
The Commissioner said that the kind of development that the University has brought to Gbeleko host community has been unprecedented in view of the massive injection of fund for the development of the institution.
“The University has brought viable commercial activities to Gbeleko community which happens to be Late Professor Ajibero’ s community and I know Ajibero’ himself would be grateful to the state government for what has been done to his community through the establishment of the Kogi state University, Kabba.
He said that the state government was totally committed to the development of technical education and would continue to do so haven realised the enormous potential technical education can bring to the state.
In a remarks, Capt. Idris Wada said the establishment of the NKFI was informed by the need for vocational skills, expressed satisfaction with the development in the Institute, praied the present and immediate past administration of the State for placing priority on education.
Similarly, Prof. Olugbemiro Jegede and Chief Sylvester Onoja called for more funding for the institute pointing out that vocational and technical education is the way to go in solving the nations technological advancement.
In an opening address, the Rector, Nigerian Korea Friendship Institute of Advanced Technology, Dr. Williams Charles expressed gratitude to the administration of Gov Usman Ahmed Ododo for it effective funding of the institute.
The guest lecturer, Professor Lamidi Kehinde called on the state government to cultivate political will and increase the funds allocation for vocational education which he said was the future of the country.
“The era of white collar job is long gone, vocational training is the future which every youth should embrace” the Professor added.
Late Professor Mathew Ajibero was a former Rector of Kogi state Polytechnic.
