By joshua KOGI STATE: A CONFLUENCE OF OPPORTUNITIES, UNITY AND PROGRESS @ 35 – A Congratulatory Message to the Government and People of Kogi State
By Amb. Hon. Abdulsalam Bawa DANGANA
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE OF THE CONFLUENCE STATE
On this historic occasion of our 35th Anniversary, I heartily congratulate His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, FCA, the Government, Traditional Rulers, Religious Leaders, Civil Society Organizations, and the good people of Kogi State – at Home and in the Diaspora.
From the founding fathers who birthed this vision in 1991, to every farmer in Idah and Ofu, teacher in Okene and Ogori-Magongo, trader in Lokoja and Koton-Karfe, and youth in Kabba and Yagba – you have all written the story of Kogi State with courage, faith, and unity.
35 years is not just a number. It is 35 years of resilience. 35 years of building one home from many tongues. 35 years of proving that at the confluence, greatness is born.
Congratulations Kogi State! Congratulations to the People of the Confluence!
KOGI @ 35: A CONFLUENCE OF OPPORTUNITIES, UNITY AND PROGRESS
Thirty-five years ago, a bold vision was born at the very heart of Nigeria. On the 27th of August 1991, Kogi State was created – not by accident, but by destiny. A state forged at the confluence of the Rivers Niger and Benue, and a confluence of cultures, languages, and dreams.
Today, as we celebrate KOGI @ 35, we celebrate more than the passage of time. We celebrate a people who chose to build together. We celebrate progress against odds. We celebrate unity in diversity.
1. A CONFLUENCE OF OPPORTUNITIES
Kogi is blessed beyond measure. Nature placed us at the center of Nigeria, and in doing so, placed the center of Nigeria in us.
Our land is rich:
– Agriculture: From yam and cassava in the East, to rice and cashew in the West, to fisheries along our river banks. Kogi State feeds Nigeria.
– Solid Minerals: We sit on vast deposits of coal, iron ore, limestone, and gold. Ajaokuta and Obajana are not just names – they are the industrial heartbeat of the nation.
– Commerce and Trade: Lokoja, our capital, is the gateway between North and South. Every truck, every trader, every traveler passing through Nigeria passes through Kogi State.
– Human Capital: Our greatest resource is our people – innovative, hardworking, and globally competitive. From education to entrepreneurship, Kogi sons and daughters are making us proud across Nigeria and the World.
At 35, our mandate is clear: to move from potential to production. To turn our resources into jobs, our location into logistics and agro-processing hubs, and our youth, women into wealth creators. The time to harness this opportunity is now.
2. A CONFLUENCE OF UNITY
What makes Kogi truly unique is not just what is under our soil, but who lives on it. Ebira, Igala, Okun, Bassa, Nupe, Kakanda, Oworo, and over 9 other ethnic groups call Kogi Home.
For 35 years we have proven that diversity is not a weakness, it is our strength. We have disagreed, yes. But we have never broken. We have learned to dialogue, to share, and to build together.
This spirit of unity is our greatest export. In a nation searching for examples of peaceful coexistence, Kogi stands as proof that different tribes can become one people, with one destiny.
As the African proverb says: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Kogi has chosen to go far – together.
3. A CONFLUENCE OF PROGRESS
The journey has not been without challenges. But look at how far we have come.
We have built institutions of learning that are shaping minds: Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara, Kogi State University (KSU), Kabba, Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU), Anyigba, and Kogi State Polytechnic (KSP), Lokoja, and many others.
We have expanded access to healthcare, roads, and rural electrification.
We have empowered women and youth through MSMEs, agriculture, and digital skills.
We have positioned Kogi as a safe corridor for investment and tourism – from the Lord Lugard House, to Mount Patti, to our rich cultural festivals.
Progress is not always loud. Sometimes it is the quiet courage of a nurse in Ankpa, a civil servant in Lokoja, and an entrepreneur in Adavi who wakes up every day to build Kogi.
The efforts of the present government in the areas of security, infrastructure, women and youth empowerment have laid a solid foundation. May this momentum continue.
THE ROAD AHEAD @ 35 AND BEYOND
As we step into the next 35 years, let us recommit to three sacred duties:
1. HARNESS OPPORTUNITY: Let us invest heavily in agro-processing, technology, and manufacturing. Let our graduates not just seek jobs, but create them. Let Kogi become Nigeria’s hub for agribusiness and industrial growth.
2. PROTECT UNITY: Let us reject division and embrace dialogue. Our unity is the foundation of every progress we seek. Government, traditional institutions, women and youth must continue to work as one.
3. ACCELERATE PROGRESS: The “Dual Mandate” for Kogi is clear – serve the people today, and build for the generations of tomorrow. Let us support made-in-Kogi goods, pay our taxes, and contribute our quota to development.
To every Kogite: You are the “architects of this confluence”. Your talent, your integrity, and your love for Kogi will determine how far we go.
Kogi State is not just a place on the map. “It is an idea”. An idea that different people can live together. An idea that resources can become prosperity. An idea that a young state can grow into a great state.
Happy 35th Anniversary, Kogi State!
May the confluence that birthed us continue to be the confluence that blesses us – with Opportunities, Unity, and Progress.
God bless Kogi State. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Amb. Hon. Abdulsalam Bawa DANGANA,
A Proud Son of the Confluence State
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© 27/08/2026ie