Kogi Hands Over Site for Establishment of Science and Technical College Ogugu to FG

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By Stephen Adeleye.

The Kogi State Government has officially handed over the Site for the establishment of the new Federal Science and Technical College (FSTC), Ogugu, to the Federal Government through the Ministry of Education.

The State’s Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Wemi Jones, FCIB, represented His Excellency, Gov. Yahaya Bello, at the handover ceremony on on Tuesday in Ogugu, Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi.

The the new FSTC is being sited at Ogugu Community Secondary School (OCSS) established in 1971 as the oldest secondary school in the Northern region of Nigeria.

Speaking on behalf of the governor, Jones congratulated the entire Kogi State for the achievement, particularly the people of Ogugu communities for being the most favoured, saying Federal presence had come to Ogugu land.

He thanked the federal government for the laudable initiative, and extolled the governor for his detribalised nature in locating the FSTC at Igala land, while thanking the Ogugu people for their show of love in accepting the offer.

He further commended the governor for the establishment of  University of Science and Technology, Osara, stressing that science and technical education remained the way forward in order to become self-employed.

”We want to get to a point where the training you have gotten in school will build your capacity and skills to become self-employed.”

The Commissioner noted the State Government would  make provision for the road network, electrification and pipe borne water with full recirculation within the college.

He, however, implored the communities to cooperate with the government by ensuring adequate security for students and staff of the college, and also protect and maintain the facilities in the school.

”The new college is your legacy, and you are the only one who can take proper care of it; it is your own.

”His Excellency is irreversibly committed to taking education to the next level in Kogi State through diverse education reforms.

”The governor had said that 20 per cent of the state budget will go to education sector henceforth for the remaining years of his administration.

”We are open to advice, suggestions, constructive criticism and collaboration from every quarter at all time”, he said.

Earlier, the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, noted that the establishment of Science and Technical Colleges across the country was aimed at promoting the acquisition of technical and vocational skills among the Nigerian youths.

Adamu, who represented by one of the ministry’s Directors, Pastor Kola Osundeyi, said there were 21 FSTCs across the federation with 16 States yet to benefit.

He added that President Muhammadu Buhari approved the establishment of 16 new FSTCs in three phases beginning from 2020 to 2022, saying Kogi was one of the six states earmarked to benefit in the first phase in 2020.

The Minister explained that Kogi Government provided Ogugu Community Science School, Olamaboro LGA, as the site for the new FSTC in Kogi which had been assessed and approved by the federal government.

He urged the State Government to continue its positive collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education in the actualisation of the FG’s desire to transform education in the country.

Adamu further urged the State Government to kindly provide additional facilities that would enhance the environment and make it conducive for teaching and learning to take-off in the college, while charging the host communities to have cordial relationship with students and staff of the new college.

In their goodwill messages, the Ejeh of Olamaboro, HRH Simeon Ujah; and the Acting Ochogwu of Ogugu Land, Chief Salifu Emmanuel Ojonugwa, both commended the Federal and State Governments for the gesture, saying they were very happy and elated.

They specifically thanked the governor and his deputy, Chief Edward Onoja, for the gesture towards their LGA, while commending all the stakeholders who had contributed in one way or the other to the reality of the great achievement.

”I want to specially thanked GYB for making this to happen and for expediting the approval of this school without hesitation”, Ujah said.

The Ejeh of Olamaboro further urged the pioneer principal of the new college to put in his best, and also carry the community along, while assuring him of the total support and commitments of the traditional council and the entire Olamaboro LGA.

Ujah urged the communities to ensure they rallied round the principal for the success of the school.

On his part, the President of Ogugu Development Union (ODU), Mr Enemona Anyebe, said they were all were all happy with the development.

He noted that the OCSS was established in 1971 which was the first in the Northern region through the sweat and active participation of the members of the community, which was later taken over by state government.

”We considered ourselves very lucky as communities to be the the beneficiaries of the gesture from the Federal and State Governments.

”Our children will have opportunity to study science and technical courses in the school, and for people from all over the federation to come into our community.

”As communities, we are assureing the federal and state governments that we will play our roles to ensure the success of the new college”, Anyebe said.

The Pioneer Principal of the new FSTC Ogugu, Mr Idowu A.P, promised to pursue, uphold and maintain good school community relationship for the overall development of the college, now and in future, while urging parents and guardians to enrol their wards in the school.

The Commissioner thereafter, paid an unscheduled visit to Government Secondary School, Okpo and Government Girls Model Secondary School, Ogbonicha, Ofu LGA, where he charged the students to study hard and be good ambassadors of their parents, families, State and Nigeria at large.

Jones also inspected some infrastructures and facilities in the schools such as classrooms, hostel, dining hall, kitchen, among others.


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