By Abdullahi Suleiman
Today, as Kogi State marks 35 years of its creation, it is important to pause, reflect and appreciate the journey of our dear state. Thirty-five years is not a small milestone. It is a period of history filled with struggles, sacrifices, opportunities, challenges, achievements and, above all, the determination of our people to build a state that we can all be proud to call our own.
As we celebrate Kogi at 35, I want to talk about a fine gentleman, a humble son of Kogi, a man whose journey to the highest political office in the state is a remarkable testimony to the unpredictability of life and the mysterious ways of destiny — His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, Executive Governor of Kogi State.
A fine gentleman from Upogoro, Okene, Kogi State, Governor Ododo came from a humble background and grew through the normal stages of life, education, professional service and public administration. As a young boy attending secondary school in Upogoro, he could hardly have imagined that one day he would sit in the Government House, Lokoja, as the Chief Executive of Kogi State.
Such is life.
Such is destiny.
Sometimes, the future is hidden from the young man who is struggling through the present. The boy in the classroom does not always know that he may one day become a professor. The young civil servant does not know that he may one day become a permanent secretary. The accountant working quietly does not necessarily know that he may one day become a governor.
But life has a way of opening doors that we never knew existed.
That is the story of Ahmed Usman Ododo.
He was once simply a young student from Upogoro, Okene. Today, he occupies the highest elective office in the state. His journey from the classroom to professional accounting, from public service to the office of Auditor-General for Local Governments, and ultimately to the governorship of Kogi State, is a story worthy of reflection.
And what makes the story even more interesting is that he inherited the responsibility of governing one of Nigeria’s most geographically, ethnically and culturally diverse states.
Kogi is not an ordinary state.
It is a meeting point of peoples, cultures, languages, traditions and economic interests. It is home to the Igala, Ebira, Okun, Bassa, Nupe and many other communities. It is a state where the Niger and Benue Rivers meet, and where the interests of North, South and Middle Belt Nigeria intersect.
To govern such a state requires patience, political understanding, courage, administrative experience and the ability to appreciate the diversity of the people.
This is why the story of Governor Ododo deserves attention as we celebrate Kogi at 35.
The Governor and the Responsibility of Continuity
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo came into office with a responsibility that goes beyond simply starting another administration. He came with the responsibility of consolidating, continuing and expanding the development trajectory of Kogi State.
Governance is indeed a relay race. One administration receives the baton from another, moves it forward and eventually hands it over to another generation.
Governor Ododo himself has described governance in this manner, acknowledging the contributions of previous administrations while emphasizing the need to keep moving the state forward.
His administration has therefore placed significant emphasis on infrastructure, agriculture, human capital development, workers’ welfare, healthcare, security, commerce, digital governance and economic development.
Roads and Infrastructure
One of the most visible areas of the administration is road infrastructure.
Roads are not merely physical structures. They are economic arteries. A good road connects farmers to markets, students to schools, patients to hospitals, workers to their places of work and communities to one another.
The administration has continued road construction and rehabilitation across different parts of the state, including major roads within Lokoja and other parts of Kogi.
Among the notable projects are the Zone 8-Barracks-Zango Road and the Zone 8-Crusher Road, alongside other township and rural roads. The state government has also reported ongoing road projects across the three senatorial districts.
This is important because development should not remain concentrated in one geographical area.
Kogi must develop as one state.
From Kogi East to Kogi Central and Kogi West, the people deserve infrastructure that makes life easier and economic activities more productive.
Kogi International Airport
Another project that deserves special mention is the Kogi International Airport project.
An airport is not simply a place where aircraft land and take off. Properly developed, an airport can become a catalyst for commerce, tourism, investment, agriculture, logistics and employment.
The Kogi State Government has presented the airport as a strategic project designed to take advantage of Kogi’s central geographical position in Nigeria and strengthen the state’s economic connectivity.
For a state located at such an important geographical intersection, the idea of having an international-standard airport is indeed a bold one.
If properly completed and sustainably managed, it can become one of the major economic assets of Kogi State.
The New International Market
Commerce is another important pillar of development.
The construction of the new international market along the Zone 8-Crusher corridor in Lokoja is another project that deserves attention.
The idea is not simply to construct shops. It is about creating a modern commercial environment where traders, wholesalers, investors and consumers can operate in a safer and more organized setting.
The state government has described the project as a response to the challenges associated with the existing international market and as an effort to create a modern commercial hub for the state.
A modern market means better commercial organization, improved revenue opportunities, better sanitation and a more attractive environment for investment.
Massive Employment and Workers’ Welfare
Government is ultimately about people.
Infrastructure without people is meaningless.
One area that has received considerable attention under the Ododo administration is employment and workers’ welfare.
The administration has emphasized the need to address outstanding obligations to workers, including salaries, promotions and other entitlements. Reports from the state government also highlight improvements in workers’ welfare and the approval of a state minimum wage above the federal benchmark.
Employment is particularly important in a state with a large youthful population.
When government creates opportunities for young people, it is not merely putting money in their pockets. It is giving them dignity, confidence and a stake in the future of their society.
Youth Empowerment
The youth are the greatest asset of Kogi State.
They are not merely the leaders of tomorrow. They are participants in today’s development.
The administration’s emphasis on youth empowerment, skills acquisition, agriculture, entrepreneurship and other productive opportunities is therefore important.
A young person who receives a skill today may become an employer tomorrow.
A young farmer with access to mechanisation and inputs can become an agricultural entrepreneur.
A young person trained in technology can participate in the digital economy from Kogi and compete with people anywhere in the world.
That is the kind of empowerment that creates sustainable development.
Civil Service Reforms
Coming from a professional background in accounting and public financial administration, Governor Ododo understands the importance of an efficient civil service.
A government cannot perform better than the machinery that implements its policies.
Civil service reform, therefore, must involve efficiency, accountability, proper documentation, prompt payment, digital processes and improved institutional discipline.
The administration has continued efforts to strengthen public administration and improve the management of government resources.
This is particularly important because the civil service is the permanent institution through which government policies are translated into practical programmes.
Digitalization of Government
The world has moved from paper-based administration to digital governance.
Kogi cannot afford to remain behind.
The digitalisation of government processes has the potential to reduce bureaucracy, improve transparency, make information easier to access and strengthen institutional accountability.
For a new generation of Kogites who are growing up in a digital world, government must also learn to speak the language of technology.
The administration’s broader emphasis on digitalisation and technology is therefore a step toward preparing Kogi for the modern economy. The state government has also emphasized the use of technology in governance and public communication.
Audit and Financial Accountability
One cannot discuss Governor Ododo’s administration without remembering his professional background. Before becoming governor, he served as Auditor-General for Local Governments in Kogi State. Therefore, financial accountability and public resource management are areas where his professional experience becomes particularly relevant.
The construction and development of modern audit infrastructure, including the Audit House, is symbolic of the importance attached to accountability and financial management.
Public money belongs to the people. Every naira must therefore be accounted for. The strength of any government is not only measured by the projects it constructs but also by how responsibly it manages the resources entrusted to it.
Tax Breaks and Investment-Friendly Policies
Kogi must not become a state where businesses are discouraged by unnecessary burdens.
The administration has emphasized an investment-friendly environment, improved land and tax administration and measures designed to attract investors. The state government has specifically linked improved tax administration and investment-friendly policies to its broader industrialisation strategy.
This is important.
Government should collect legitimate revenue, but taxation should not suffocate enterprise.
A good tax system should encourage businesses to grow, employ people and contribute to the development of the state.
Agriculture and Tractor Procurement
Perhaps no sector is more important to Kogi’s future than agriculture.
Kogi is blessed with land and agricultural potential. But the future of agriculture cannot depend entirely on hoes and cutlasses.
Modern agriculture requires mechanisation.
The Ododo administration has invested heavily in agriculture, including the procurement and deployment of agricultural machinery, tractors, improved seedlings, farm inputs and the engagement of agricultural extension workers.
The governor reported that the administration invested more than ₦9 billion in agriculture during its first year, including agricultural machines, improved seedlings, improved breeds and extension services. The government also reported the preparation of 7,800 hectares of farmland across 84 centres for young farmers.
The deployment of tractors and other agricultural machinery is therefore not merely about buying equipment.
It is about changing the way farming is done.
It is about moving from subsistence agriculture toward commercial agriculture.
It is about producing enough food for Kogi and contributing to food security in Nigeria.
Livestock and Cold-Chain Development
The livestock sector also deserves attention.
The establishment of livestock and cold-chain infrastructure can help address some of the challenges associated with preservation, transportation and marketing of animal products.
Cold-chain systems are important because agricultural development does not end at production.
Farmers must be able to preserve what they produce.
Products must reach consumers in good condition.
Value must be added along the agricultural chain.
This is how agriculture becomes an industry rather than merely a means of survival.
Healthcare Development
Healthcare is another important area of development.
The administration has reported substantial investment in primary healthcare, including the upgrading of 160 Primary Healthcare Centres across the state to improve their capacity to provide higher levels of care.
This is significant because healthcare must reach the ordinary man in the village, not only those who live in Lokoja or other major towns.
A healthy population is a productive population.
Education and Human Capital
No celebration of Kogi’s 35th anniversary would be complete without talking about education.
Education remains the foundation upon which every sustainable society is built.
Governor Ododo has continued programmes inherited from the previous administration while also pursuing interventions of his own. These include support for examination fees and educational infrastructure. The state government reported an investment of ₦600 million toward WAEC registration fees for more than 18,700 students in public secondary schools.
This is important because poverty should not prevent a child from sitting for an examination.
The future of Kogi is sitting in today’s classrooms.
Security and the Return to the Farms
No meaningful development can take place without security.
The administration has strengthened cooperation among security agencies and community-based security structures, while also emphasizing technology and community engagement.
This has direct implications for agriculture.
A farmer cannot farm successfully when he is afraid to go to his farm.
Security is therefore not merely about policing. It is an economic policy.
When farmers return to their farms, food production increases.
When markets become safer, commerce improves.
When communities become secure, investors become more confident.
Kogi at 35: The Journey is Not Over
As Kogi celebrates 35 years, we must acknowledge that the journey is still far from complete.
There are still roads to build.
There are still schools to renovate.
There are still hospitals to strengthen.
There are still young people to empower.
There are still communities waiting for development.
There are still businesses waiting for an enabling environment.
There is still a need to deepen accountability and strengthen institutions.
But development is not achieved in one day.
A state is built gradually — project by project, policy by policy, institution by institution and generation by generation.
Therefore, while celebrating achievements, we must also encourage the government to do more.
A Word for Governor Ododo
Your Excellency, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, your story is a reminder that life can take a young boy from an ordinary classroom in Upogoro to the highest office in Kogi State.
You may not have known, as a young student, that destiny was preparing you for this responsibility.
But today, you occupy that position.
History will judge every administration not merely by the speeches delivered but by the lives touched, institutions strengthened, opportunities created and foundations laid for future generations.
Your Excellency, the task is enormous, but so is the opportunity.
Kogi has the land.
Kogi has the people.
Kogi has the minerals.
Kogi has agriculture.
Kogi has rivers.
Kogi has a strategic geographical location.
And, most importantly, Kogi has millions of people who want to see their state succeed.
Let us therefore continue to build a Kogi that is united, prosperous, secure, economically productive and proud of its diversity.
Thirty-five years ago, Kogi State was created.
Today, we celebrate the journey.
We celebrate the sacrifices of our founding fathers.
We celebrate the contributions of successive administrations.
We celebrate the workers, farmers, teachers, traders, civil servants, entrepreneurs, professionals, traditional rulers, religious leaders, students and ordinary citizens who have contributed in one way or another to the development of our dear state.
And today, I celebrate a fine gentleman from Upogoro, Okene — His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo — whose journey from the classroom to the Government House is a remarkable reminder that destiny can take a person to places he never imagined.
The story of Governor Ododo is still being written.
The story of Kogi State is still being written.
And as we mark 35 years of Kogi State, may the next 35 years bring even greater prosperity, unity, peace, development and opportunities for every Kogite.
Happy 35th Anniversary, Kogi State.
Long live Kogi State.
Long live the people of Kogi State.
May Almighty Allah continue to guide and give wisdom to our leaders.
May Kogi continue to rise.
– Abdullahi Suleiman
Email: abdullahiramt423@gmail.com
