Kogi state Governor, Yahaya Bello on Friday signed into law a bill for the establishment of Kogi State University, Kabba.
He promised to matriculate the first set of students before the expiration of his tenure.
This is just as Governor Bello equally signed the bill for the re-enactment of Kogi Prohibition of Kidnapping and other related matters 2023 into law.
Gov. Bello disclosed that with the master plan for the take off of the University ready, his administration will on Monday submit it for approval and recognition by the National University Commission (NUC).
Gov. Bello disclosed that the College of Education Technical Kabba will be relocated to Yagba Federal Constituency.
While speaking at the signing ceremony, Gov. Bello described the feat to establish the University in Kabba as a generational ambition for Okunland and Kogi West in general.
He pointed out that he was glad that during his administration, every region now has a state university representing equity, fairness and justice, which could cater effectively for the higher education needs and that young people from these region would no longer be denied the right to be admitted to study courses of their choices due to the growing number of applicants.
Governor Bello appreciated the 8th Assembly members for ensuring swiftly in the process of the passage of the bills alluding that any generation that wants to survive poverty, must make education it’s priority.
The governor stressed that his government holds a reputation of not taking education lightly as several policies, programmes and infrastructural drive in the sector have shown clearly the vintage position of the sector in the state.
Commenting on the re-enactment of Kogi Prohibition of Kidnapping and other related matters 2023, the Governor stated that no society could prosper or achieve socio-economic growth without adequate Security and guaranteed citizen’s safety.
He said the newly re enacted law is intended to get rid of crime and criminals that were still living in every nooks and crannies of the state noting that Kogi state under his watch remained committed to a zero tolerance policy for crimes, criminals and their sponsors.
He mentioned that the law, which is yet another strong legislation would guaranteed that kidnapping, arm robbery, thuggery and other similar vices would not be condoled. He said criminals would be smoked out of their hideouts because the state must be totally free of criminality.
Earlier, the Speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Aliyu Umar Yusuf, who was present alongside his colleagues when Governor Bello signed the two bills, said the the actions of the House was in consonance with the provision of Section 100 (3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) as amended.
“After your assent, a copy of the law will be sent to the Assembly and the judiciary respectively for their records while the third copy of the law will be retained by the Governor office for the use by the executive arm of government,” he said.
