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…… Highlighting Viz a Viz his Sixty-six (66) Notable Achievements as Rector, Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja.
In and around the political happenings in Kogi State, we are in dare need of man whose name echoes positively for exemplifying Leadership; as evidenced by his consistent articulation of state problems into a compendium alongside distilled solutions grounded in detailed proposed policy positions just as imprinted in Kogi state Polytechnic, Lokoja in the last 2 years as Acting Rector and substantive Rector.
If You ever work closely with him, you will understand his “fire- brigade approach” especially when addressing issues of concerned. Dr. Usman a transformational, reformative leader with unmatched resolve and a deep sense of ideological direction needed to transform the state.
Here is a man whose passionate desire to lead has proven to be a consistent advocate and ambassador of a better Kogi State and have never compromised in protecting and promoting the socio and political-economic interests of the state.
Firmly rooted in solving problems and rendering pure services to humanity through humility, character, integrity, and competence.
Dr. Usman never lead to creates emotional infractions, psychological perturbations, and social disequilibrium among the people, that desire becomes a complete anathema to the true spirit of leadership he exemplify.
His unusual Magnanimity earned him the chieftaincy title “Omaoja’Ata” Igala Kingdom translated to mean ” The Servant of all”.
Sixty-six (66) notable Achievements Of Dr. Salisu Ogbo Usman As Rector, Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja.
– CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION OF PHYSICAL FACILITIES
1. Construction of a storey-building for Academic and Administrative purposes (Tetfund sponsored – completed and occupied);
2. Construction of a storey-building containing Offices, Studios and Exhibition Halls for the School of Art, Design and Printing (Tetfund sponsored – completed and occupied);
3. Construction of a storey-building containing Classrooms, Studios and Offices for the School of Environmental Technology (Tetfund sponsored – completed and occupied);
4. Construction of a storey-building containing Laboratory, Workshop and Offices for the School of Applied Sciences (Tetfund sponsored- completed and occupied);
5. Construction of a 200-Seat Capacity Twin Lecture Theatre (Tetfund sponsored- completed and occupied);
6. Construction of a storey-building for the School of Sciences containing Classrooms, Offices and Laboratories at Osara (Tetfund sponsored – Donated to CUSTECH);
7. Construction of a storey-building as Computer-Based Test Centre Extension (Tetfund sponsored at 85% completion);
8. Building of a Model Security House as a replacement for the inherited 3-room cubicle (Sponsored from IGR and donations – Completed and occupied);
9. Remodeling and reconstruction of the Old Library Complex to a 30-bed Medical Centre as a replacement for a 3-bed sick bay inherited (IGR sponsored – Completed and occupied);
10. Complete renovation and maintenance of Lecture Theatre A & B (Tetfund sponsored);
11. Construction of drainage for erosion control and pedestal walkway for traffic control around admission block on the main campus (IGR sponsored – Completed and in use);
12. Landscaping and campus beautification tagged ‘Operation Clean and Green’ (IGR sponsored – Ongoing projects);
13. A storey-building for Workshop, Offices and Tractor Implement for the newly established School of Agricultural Technology (Tetfund sponsored – Just awarded and at 35% completion);
14. Perimeter fencing of the female Hostel (IGR sponsored – Completed and in use);
15. Reconstruction and remodeling of the 1000 seat capacity lecture theater that was abandoned since 2012 (Tetfund sponsored – Just awarded at 45% completion);
16. Construction and furnishing of Tractor and Implement Workshop for the School of Agricultural Technology, Itakpe (Tetfund sponsored – Just awarded at 35% completion);
17. Comprehensive renovation of the students’ hostels stalled since 2016 and the return of the students to the hostel after over five (5) years of off- campus residency (Sponsored via Loan Facilities on the basis of PPP 80% repaid);
18. Award of Contract for the complete fencing of the Itakpe Campus against intruders and land grabbers.
19. Floor overlay and complete renovation of the 500 Seat Capacity Lecture Theatre (IGR Sponsored – completed and in use)
20. Complete renovation of the vandalised storey-building for the Science Laboratory Technology (SLT) Laboratory (IGR Sponsored – Completed and In use).
– ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS AND EXPANSION
21. Establishment of the Legal Unit (First in the history of the Institution);
22. Establishment of Directorate of Sports (First in the history of the institution);
23. Establishment of Directorate of Advancement, Support and Linkages (First in the history of the institution);
24. Establishment of Directorate of Servicom (First in the history of the institution);
25. Establishment of Directorate of Information Technology and Resource Centre (First in the history of the institution);
26. Upgrading of Entrepreneurship Development Centre to a full Directorate;
27. Establishment of the Directorate of Research and Innovation (First in the history of the institution);
28. Courageous and audacious zero tolerance for unethical/sharp practices such as extortion and imposition of textbooks on students, among others;
29. Frontal tackling of cultism, examination misconduct, indiscipline and other social vices;
30. Reorganization and repositioning of the Public Relations and Protocol Unit for effective service delivery;
31. Courageous ejection of the Zango market operators and their menacing activities in collaboration with land grabbers from the front of the ltakpe Campus;
32. Production of maiden edition of the Annual Report;
33. Review of Schemes and Conditions of Service for the staff (ongoing);
34. Restoration of discipline and job ethics amongst staff
35. Comprehensive staff record update exercise for clean and digital record against the manual and perennial conflicting record between the nominal and payroll;
– ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT AND QUALITY ASSURANCE
36. Successful re-accreditation of 30 Programmes with full accreditation status by the National Board for Technical Education (The first in the history of the Institution);
37. Establishment of the School of Agricultural Technology at Itakpe with four (4) Academic Departments: Agricultural Technology, Animal Health and Production Technology, Agricultural and Bio-Environmental Technology, and Horticulture and Landscape Technology;
38. Setting up of Central Students Disciplinary Committee;
39. Setting up of Central Examination Misconduct Committee;
40. Setting up of Academic Board Results Verification Committee as a prelude to the Academic Board meeting for proper scrutiny and cost effectiveness;
41. Introduction of Computer Based Test (CBT) for the conduct of the General Studies examination to cub unethical practices and ensure prompt release of results;
42. Provision of new statement of result template with additional security features against falsification;
43. E-Results computation and display of semester results online for students (First in the history of the institution);
44. Furnishing and provision of adequate up-to-date textbooks, Journals and e – library components at the Polytechnic Library;
45. Establishment of Mass Communication Department;
46. Establishment of the Department of Humanity and Social Sciences and the overall reorganization of the School of General Studies;
47. Follow up and eventual signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) for collaboration and smooth take off of the Departments of Aerospace Engineering Technology and Mechatronics Engineering Technology at the School of Engineering, Itakpe;
– STAFF WELFARE
48. Payment of inherited allowances to deserving staff;
49. Implementation and cash backing of staff promotion dated back to 2014;
50. Provision of bus to convey staff to the Itakpe Campus (First in history);
51. Provision of palliative transport services for the staff to cushion the effect of the year 2022 flood in Lokoja;
52. Recruitment of new staff to reduce workload on staff across the Departments;
53. Repositioning and effective take-off of the Polytechnic Staff School after a long period of ‘motion without movement’;
54. Prompt promotion of the deserving staff;
– STUDENTS WELFARE
55. Review of Students’ Information Handbook;
56. Periodic conduct of Students’ Government Election;
57. Support for the historic completion of the Students’ Union Building after over
a decade of abandonment;
58. Provision of Two (2) numbers of 1000 capacity storage tanks for reticulation and water supply on 24 hours basis to the hostels.
– PROVISION OF VEHICLES
59. Provision of Two (2) Toyota Hilux vehicles;
60. Provision of a Water Tanker for prompt water supply;
61. Provision of Ambulance bus for prompt medical emergency response.
– SECURITY
62. Frontal campaign and security architecture against cultism and cult related activities as well as other social vices which led to the arrest of suspected cultist later convicted and sentenced; arrest of illicit drug barons and fake security personnel with forged identification card, among others;
63. Provision of Security Patrol Vans for Lokoja and Itakpe Campuses;
64. Provision of CCTV camera and communication gadgets for effective surveillance and communication;
65. Campus illumination and ban on indiscriminate planting of crops that may constitute security threat;
66. Training and Retraining of the Security operatives and personnel.
It is not a surprise therefore that the Governing Council of Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja presented a plaque and letter of commendation to this reformer and academic enigma.
The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Kogi State Chapter, recognised this administrative wizard as the EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR 2022 for his uncommon records of “REPAIR, REFORM and RESTORE” the lost glory of the Polytechnic.
The Polytechnic will continue to appreciate His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello, the Executive Governor of Kogi State for the all time support particularly, for not interfering in the internal governance of the institution.
I, therefore recommend without any iota of doubt and contradiction Dr. Usman to any succeeding administration of the state — a man that would be instrumental in the restoration of the shared vision in a democratic and united Kogi while bolstering the pride and Democratic cohesion of the state.
– Abdulkadir Bin ABDULMALIK
Opinion Writer, Kogi State.
