In his address during a press briefing in Lokoja, Dr. Salisu Usman Ogbo, the Rector of Kogi State Polytechnic, revealed the daunting challenge he faced upon inheriting an institution where cultists held a revered status, acting as demigods and unleashing terror on both students and staff within the campus premises.
Speaking on Thursday to mark the commencement of activities for the institution’s fourth combined convocation ceremonies, Rector Ogbo outlined the persistent issues caused by criminal elements and the strides made under his leadership to curb their negative impact on the campus community.
The rector emphasized the successful implementation of strategic security measures and intelligence gathering that have significantly reduced the influence of cultists and other criminal groups within the polytechnic. He cited the arrest of students and non-students carrying weapons and illicit drugs while attempting to enter the campus as tangible outcomes of these efforts.
Highlighting the challenges inherited by the current administration, Ogbo pointed out the institution’s previously tarnished image, a lack of functional student hostels, deficiencies in ICT infrastructure, ethnic polarization, an untidy physical environment, and dilapidated infrastructure. Additionally, he mentioned the severed relationships with funding agencies due to failed contracts and abandoned projects spanning over a decade.
In response to these challenges, the rector introduced the “Three-R” mission of “Repair, Reform, and Restore.” Through a consultative and committee-driven approach, the administration has been actively addressing these issues to restore the lost glory of the institution.
The transformative efforts have yielded positive results, with 249 students set to graduate with distinctions at the upcoming fourth combined convocation ceremony. Among them, 145 students will be awarded distinctions at the national diploma level, and 104 at the higher national diploma level. The overall graduating class comprises 7,653 students with national diplomas and 4,427 students with higher national diplomas, representing a significant achievement in overcoming accreditation challenges and convocation backlogs spanning nine years.
