**Hosts Lokoja First Advocacy Group.
The Rector of Kogi State Polytechnic, Professor Mohammed Atureta has promised indigenes of the institution’s host community of cordial working relationship under his leadership.
He gave the assurance on Thursday in Lokoja when the leadership of Lokoja First Advocacy Group paid him a working visit in his office.
Professor Atureta who enjoined youth of the area to eschew all forms of vices to make themselves better and responsible representatives of their communities and parents, expressed sadness about the involvement of the young ones in acts that are inimical to the society.
The Rector described education as a panacea to ignorance which fuels several condemnable conducts, noting that he was ready to bring both infrastructural and academic upliftment to the institution in his tenure.
He said his vision was to see the institution become a reference point to others, saying he wants Kogi State Polytechnic to rival universities across the country and beyond.
The academic don used the occasion to appeal to landlords in the area to have compassion on his students and stop exploiting them with harsh accommodation prices so as to make teaching and learning more attractive and for the institution to attract outsiders to it.
He assured the group that the institution gives high priority to indigenes in terms of admission because anyone that applies in the Polytechnic from Lokoja is usually admitted if they meet minimum national requirements.
The Rector then described the people of Lokoja as accommodating and hospitable, and assured them of an open door policy under his leadership.
Earlier in his address, the Chairman, Lokoja First Advocacy Group, Comrade Umar Yakubu Ali had intimated their host that their objective was to enhance peace while making case for what is due to Lokoja irrespective of the institution.
He bemoaned the lack of opportunities for the people of Lokoja in various organisations and institutions in the community and appealed for the consideration of citizens of the area for positions – both promotion and employment.
The Chairman expressed displeasure about the continued overlooking of Lokoja Citizens, stressing that it was time some of the identified injustices were addressed.
He thanked the Rector for his humility and hospitality, and assured him of the group’s preparedness to sensitize citizens of the area on the dangers of some of the ills he identified in order to make his tenure a successful one.
