By Abdulhameed Ivavah
At a time when the rising cost of accommodation is putting increasing pressure on residents and students across Lokoja, the Rector of Kogi State Polytechnic, Prof. S. S. Avidime has taken a compassionate step to reduce the financial burden on students by lowering hostel fees.
Lokoja, the capital of Kogi State and home to the fast growing Kogi State Polytechnic, has in recent times witnessed growing concerns over sharp increases in house rents. In student dominated areas, rents have reportedly risen by more than 300 per cent, leaving many families, workers, and students struggling to cope.
The situation has generated protests and public concern, while the Kogi State House of Assembly has also raised motions and considered measures aimed at addressing excessive rent increases and protecting residents from exploitative practices.
The administration of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has equally been exploring housing interventions, including the proposed development of housing estates, as part of broader efforts to cushion the impact of rising accommodation costs on citizens.
Against this backdrop, Prof. Avidime’s decision to reduce hostel fees at Kogi State Polytechnic carries significant meaning. At a time when the institution could have considered increasing accommodation charges in response to rising costs, the Rector chose instead to reduce the existing fee.
The Polytechnic already provides hostel accommodation at a relatively low cost, and the further reduction demonstrates a conscious decision to prioritise student welfare over additional revenue. More than a mere adjustment to the fee structure, it is a practical response to the economic realities confronting students and their families.
The intervention also goes beyond the ₦5,000 reduction in hostel fees. Under Prof. Avidime’s leadership, the Polytechnic, is facilitating the construction of a major twin hostel project with the capacity to accommodate more than 500 students.
The project, which is progressing rapidly, is expected to expand the institution’s accommodation capacity and reduce students’ dependence on increasingly expensive private accommodation around the Polytechnic.
Prof Avidime is a Rector Who Chose Service Over Comfort, Perhaps one of the less discussed aspects of his leadership is the personal sacrifice that has accompanied his administration.
Since assuming office, the Rector has not prioritised the renovation of the official residence within the Polytechnic premises designated for his accommodation. Occupying the residence would naturally offer him greater convenience, reduce daily transportation demands and provide more privacy and comfort after official engagements.
Yet, he continues to commute to work, regularly arriving to attend to the demanding responsibilities of his office.
The Rector’s schedule is often filled with meetings, administrative duties, official engagements and audiences seeking his attention. Despite the pressures associated with leading a growing tertiary institution, he has maintained an accessible and open-door approach to staff, students, visitors and stakeholders.
This is where leadership becomes more than an office or title. A leader willing to sacrifice personal comfort for the welfare of the people he leads demonstrates that leadership can remain humane, compassionate and selfless.
Prof. Avidime’s approach reflects a simple but powerful philosophy, the welfare of the institution and its people must come before personal convenience.
While the comfort attached to public office can easily become a priority, his administration has placed considerable attention on infrastructure, student welfare and institutional development.
Leadership is often remembered not merely by the number of speeches delivered, but by the burdens lifted from the shoulders of the people.
For Kogi State Polytechnic, the combination of reduced hostel fees, expanding accommodation infrastructure, accessibility and personal sacrifice presents a picture of leadership anchored on service by our amiable Prof S.S Avidime.
Prof. Avidime inherited an institution with its own challenges, but his willingness to confront those challenges, step beyond personal convenience and place institutional progress at the centre of his responsibility, is a quality worth acknowledging. With sustained attention to infrastructure, student welfare, academic development, and responsive administration, Kogi State Polytechnic can continue on a path of growth under a leadership that places service at the heart of its responsibility.
Godbless you, My Prof.
– Abdulraheem Ivavah writes from Ajaokuta LGA, Home of Moribund Steel.
