Since assumption of office as Rector of Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, Associate Professor Salisu Ogbo Usman’s unwavering commitment to educational advancement has laid the bedrock through his kaleidoscope innovative ideas that has propelled the Polytechnic to compete globally.
Today in reminiscing the history of Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, we stand in fulfillment that after several years of succeeding administrations of Rectors, to toast to an enigma and leader who stands tall on an intellectual pedestal, a guiding light whose wisdom illuminates the paths of Staff, students and alike to weave a tapestry of words to honor the exceptional contributions of the famous Associate Professor Salisu Ogbo Usman.
Associate Professor Usman assumed office as Acting Rector of Kogi State Polytechnic on 7th April, 2020, and was confirmed as substantive Rector on 12th February, 2021, by the then Executive Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello.
His notable achievements wouldn’t have been possible without the support and encouragement of the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency Alhaji Yahaya Bello who never interfered in the internal administration of the institution.
Consequently, I’d like to commend Alhaji Yahaya Bello for identifying a man whose leadership is a symphony of intellectual prowess; a compassionate leader of action – championing initiatives that is nurturing young minds and providing fertile ground for future generations to blossom where knowledge reign supreme.
Associate Professor Usman has reformed and restored the Polytechnic to institutional preeminence through efficient infrastructural provision, administrative revolution, academic discipline and moral rebirth, among others.
These are highlighted as follows:
CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION OF PHYSICAL FACILITIES
- Construction of a storey-building for academic and administrative purposes (Tetfund sponsored – completed and occupied);
- Construction of a storey-building containing offices, studios and Exhibition Halls for the School of Art, Design and Printing (Tetfundsponsored – completed and occupied);
- Construction of a storey-building containing classrooms, studios and offices for the School of Environmental Technology (Tetfundsponsored – completed and occupied);
- Construction of a storey-building containing Laboratory, Workshop and Offices for the School of Applied Sciences (Tetfund sponsored- completed and occupied);
- Construction of a 200-Seat Capacity Twin Lecture Theatre (Tetfund sponsored- completed and occupied);
- Construction of a storey-building for the School of Sciences containing classrooms, offices and laboratories at Osara (Tetfundsponsored – Donated to CUSTECH);
- Construction of a storey-building as Computer-Based Test Centre Extension (Tetfund sponsored at 95% completion);
- Building of a Model Security House as a replacement for the inherited 3-room cubicle (Sponsored from IGR and donations – Completed and occupied);
- 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);
- Complete renovation and maintenance of Lecture Theatre A & B (IGR sponsored);
- 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);
- Landscaping and campus beautification tagged ‘Operation Clean and Green’ (IGR sponsored);
- A storey-building for workshop, offices and tractor implement for the newly established School of Agricultural Technology (Tetfund sponsored – Just awarded and at 65% completion);
- Perimeter fencing of the Female Hostel (IGR sponsored – Completed and in use);
- Reconstruction and remodeling of the 1000 Seat Capacity Lecture Theater that was abandoned since 2012 (Tetfund sponsored at 67% completion);
- Reconstruction and remodeling of the School of Communication that was abandoned since 2012 (TETFund sponsored- Just awarded at 60% completion);
- Reconstruction and remodeling of the admission block to a standard administrative block (Needs Assessment Funds sponsored at 97% completion)
- Construction and furnishing of Tractor and Implement Workshop for the School of Agricultural Technology, Itakpe (Tetfund sponsored at 75% completion);
- 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 residence (Sponsored via Loan Facilities on the basis of PPP 100% repaid);
- Award of Contract for the complete fencing of the Itakpe Campus against intruders and land grabbers.
- Floor overlay and complete renovation of the 500-Seat Capacity Lecture Theatre (IGR Sponsored – completed and in use)
- Complete renovation of the vandalisedstorey-building for the Science Laboratory Technology (SLT) Laboratory (IGR Sponsored – Completed and In use).
ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS AND EXPANSION
- Establishment and upgrading of the Legal Unit to full Directorate (First in the history of the Institution);
- Establishment of Directorate of Sports (First in the history of the institution);
- Establishment of Directorate of Advancement, Support and Linkages (First in the history of the institution);
- Establishment of Directorate of SERVICOM (First in the history of the institution);
- Establishment of Directorate of Information Technology and Resource Centre (First in the history of the institution);
- Upgrading of Entrepreneurship Development Centre to a full Directorate;
- Establishment of the Directorate of Research and Innovation (First in the history of the institution);
- Establishment of the Directorate of physical planning ( First in the History of the Institution);
- Upgrading of SIWES to full a Directorate;
- Courageous and audacious zero tolerance for unethical/sharp practices such as extortion and imposition of textbooks on students, among others;
- Frontal tackling of cultism, examination misconduct, indiscipline and other social vices;
- Reorganization, repositioning and upgrading of the Public Relations and Protocol Unit to full Directorate for effective service delivery;
- Courageous ejection of the Zango market operators and their heinousactivities in collaboration with land grabbers from the front of the ltakpe Campus;
- Production of maiden edition of the Annual Report;
- Review of Schemes and Conditions of Service for the staff (ongoing);
- Restoration of discipline and job ethics amongst staff
- Comprehensive staff record update exercise for clean and digital record, as against the manual and perennial conflicting record between the nominal and payroll;
- ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT AND QUALITY ASSURANCE
- 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);
- 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;
- Setting up of Central Students Disciplinary Committee;
- Setting up of Central Examination Misconduct Committee;
- Setting up of Academic Board Results Verification Committee as a prelude to the Academic Board meeting for proper scrutiny and cost effectiveness;
- Introduction of Computer Based Test (CBT) for the conduct of the General Studies examination to cub unethical practices and ensure prompt release of results;
- Provision of new statement of result template with additional security features against falsification;
- E-Results computation and display of semester results online for students (First in the history of the institution);
- Furnishing and provision of adequate up-to-date textbooks, Journals and e – library components at the Polytechnic Library;
- Establishment of Mass Communication Department;
- Establishment of the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences and the overall reorganization of the School of General Studies;
- 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
- Payment of inherited allowances to deserving staff;
- Implementation and cash backing of staff promotion dated back to 2014;
- Provision of bus to convey staff to the Itakpe Campus (First in history);
- Provision of palliative transport services for the staff to cushion the effect of the year 2022 flood in Lokoja;
- Recruitment of new staff to reduce workload on staff across the Departments;
- Repositioning and effective take-off of the Polytechnic Staff School after a long period of ‘motion-without-movement;
- Prompt promotion of the deserving staff;
- STUDENTS WELFARE
- Review of Students’ Information Handbook;
- Periodic conduct of Students’ Government Election;
- Support for the historic completion of the Students’ Union Building after over a decade of abandonment;
- 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
- Provision of Two (2) Toyota Hilux vehicles;
- Provision of a Water Tanker for prompt water supply;
- Provision of Ambulance bus for prompt medical emergency response.
- SECURITY
- 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;
- Provision of Security Patrol Vans for Lokoja and Itakpe Campuses;
- Provision of CCTV camera and communication gadgets for effective surveillance and communication;
- Campus illumination and ban on indiscriminate planting of crops that may constitute security threat;
- Training and Retraining of the Security operatives and personnel to combat criminal activities.
- Reclaiming the almost lost Glory of Kogi State Polytechnic by ensuring the actualization of the 4th Convocation ceremonies after 10–years.
From the foregoing, one would be convinced that what succeeding Rector’s were unable to achieve over the years have been achieved between 2020 –2024 through the tireless work put in place by Associate Professor Usman to bridge the gaps. The coming years will no doubts herald in more developments.
As an institution, we celebrate not just an individual, but the very essence of intellectual leadership which is a testament to the transformative power of knowledge, a beacon that inspires us to reach for the stars. Today, Kogi poly is placed on the map of intellectual excellence.
May the journey continue to be a luminous trail, blazing a positive path for generations of staff and students to come.
Indeed, the untold sterling performance of associate Professor Usman between 2020 –2024 is worthy of commendation.
– Abdulkadir Bin ABDULMALIK
abdulmalikabdulkadir@gmail.com
