The Reality Behind the So-Called “Dedication to Improving Education” in Kogi State
The recent statement credited to the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Wemi Jones, claiming that Governor Usman Ododo’s dedication to improving education in Kogi State is “unabating,” is at best misleading and at worst a distortion of the realities on ground.
Kogi’s educational sector, especially at the primary and secondary levels, remains in a deplorable condition. The truth is that the quality of education in Kogi cannot currently compete with that of other states in Nigeria. The evidence is glaring: in the last Federal Teachers and Schools Awards, Anambra State alone clinched nine (9) national awards, while Kogi State had none. This clearly exposes the decay in our public schools and the widening gap between Kogi and states that have made genuine investments in education.
Despite claims of a 30% budgetary allocation to education, there is no visible rehabilitation or renovation of public primary and secondary schools across the state. If indeed the government has invested so heavily as claimed, let them show the world one model school project that can stand as proof. Most schools in rural and even urban areas are still in dilapidated conditions — classrooms without roofs, no furniture, and teachers struggling without basic teaching materials.
The situation has become so bad that private schools have completely taken over the education space in Kogi. Parents who can barely afford school fees now prefer private schools simply because public schools have lost credibility. How can students from such neglected institutions compete in national examinations or any intellectual contest?
Hon. Wemi Jones also mentions payment of salaries as a sign of achievement. But, honestly, paying workers their legitimate wages is not an achievement it is a basic responsibility of government. With the increased monthly federal allocations to Kogi State compared to the previous administration, and with a leaner state workforce, the prompt payment of salaries should be automatic, not a political boast.
Furthermore, the allocations to local governments in Kogi are large enough to create employment opportunities for at least 1,000 unemployed youths, with decent salaries ranging from ₦70,000 to ₦150,000 per month. Yet, the government has failed to prioritize youth employment or capacity building. Instead, governance in Kogi is being run like a personal empire, where accountability, transparency, and people-centered policies are sacrificed for political patronage.
Kogites are not blind. The people are aware of the difference between propaganda and progress. Education is the bedrock of any serious state, and no amount of press statements can erase the fact that Kogi’s education sector is in ruins.
If urgent steps are not taken to genuinely revamp our schools, retrain teachers, and provide basic learning facilities, the All Progressives Congress (APC) risks losing the confidence of the people and eventually, the state itself — to opposition parties who may offer a more credible alternative.
It is time for Governor Ododo to move beyond rhetoric and face the realities in Kogi’s education sector. The people deserve results, not press releases.
– Princess Asmau Onyize
Coordinator Girls Child Education.
