By Stephen Adeleye.
The Kogi State Government has restated her commitment to rapid educational development by focusing more attention to Science, Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
The State’s Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Wemi Jones, gave the assurance at the 1st International Management, Entrepreneurship and Leadership Conference (FIMECON), organised by the Faculty of Management Sciences, Kogi State University (KSU) in collaboration with Association of Management Development Institutions in Pakistan, held on Monday at Kogi State University (KSU) Anyigba.
Jones noted that as a result of COVID-19, Nigeria has decided to join the philosophy of STEM, saying, ”that is our educational focus in Kogi as we speak.”
The Commissioner stressed that the governor is so interested in improving education in the state in the area of STEM for the benefit of the upcoming children and the future generations.
According to him, the governor is currently building Model Science Secondary Schools across the three senatorial districts of the state.
He explained that the projects work were simultaneously ongoing at Ajilolo Ajaji in Dekina LGA, Adankolo in Lokoja, that the completed projects would be commissioned in December 2021 as the fund to complete them were already with the relevant ministries.
He also commended the governor for raising the budgetary allocation to education from 20 to 30 per cent in the 2022 fiscal year as presented to the State House of Assembly.
“It goes to show that the governor is not doing politics with education in the state.
“A typical politician will want to spend where to get immediate returns, but investment in education is an investment for the upcoming children and future generation,” he said.
He stressed that the governor would surpass all education developmental records in Nigeria by the time the 30 per cent would be devoted to education next year,
He insisted that no state in Nigeria would come close to Kogi State in terms of educational development.
He restated that the governor’s massive investment in education was already yielding results, noting that in 2019 WAEC, Kogi was rated 28, but in 2020 the state had moved up to 14.
Jones noted that the governor deserve commendation the way he managed the COVID-19 pandemic, which according to him was very different from what was obtainable in every part of Nigeria.
“When the world was shut down, that was when Kogi was making landmark achievements under Governor Yahaya Bello.
“It was during COVID-19 that we conceived and started the establishment of the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara.
“In one year, CUSTECH started and has concluded the first semester with 11 programmes already accredited and running with over 240 students. All these happened during COVID-19, and I think that is a phenomena.
“That is what leadership is all about, and I am glad that leadership is one of the things you are going to be discussing in this conference.
“Leadership is what we have in great quantity in Kogi State under His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello,” he said.
He, therefore, advised the students to be committed and teach themselves how to create wealth using creative ideas, saying no lecturer or university would teach them that.
He prayed God to put the sprit for creation of value and wealth, that into the students in multiple folds.
He commended the Vice Chancellor of KSU for her ability to effectively manage the institution.
The theme of the conference is ”Managing The Impacts of COVID-19 Pandemic: Leadership, Entrepreneurship and Change Imperative.”
