Recently, Governor Yahaya Bello appointed Dr. Salisu Ogbo Usman to man the 27 year old Kogi state Polytechnic Lokoja. Although, the change of baton from Professor Mohammed Atureta to Dr. Ogbo Usman was made possible by what the government allegedly called undermining the policy of government as it relates to financial regulation of the state.
The former rector Professor Atureta’s tenure, though very short, had begun reforms before it was terminated. Although Atureta’s knowledge of mathematics as a science of everything which aided him to draw up a roadmap on how to reposition the polytechnic before the “proverbial banana peels” of Single Treasury Account (TSA) caught up with him and his major principal officers.
However, Dr. Ogbo Usman is by all known empirical standards a man of capacity. With cognate experience which he has garnered over time, he will no doubt transform the polytechnic to a world class institution if only the government would give him free hands to manage both human and materials resources of the school.
Dr Salisu Ogbo Usman, born 48 years ago to the family of Alhaji Usama Adejoh Bala and Hajia Rabi Usman of the popular Angwar Ogebe in Ankpa metropolis of Ankpa Local Government of Kogi state, has a remarkable achievement in his academic pursuit; from first degree, Masters and PHD within a time of less than two decades, to his equally remarkable performance in administration within a university system rising to become a Head of the Department less than a decade makes his choice as the best to have happened to the Polytechnics since her establishment 27 years ago.
The new acting rector whose name Ogbo connotes Imam, which simply means one with superlative knowledge, has all it takes to take the Polytechnic to its desire destination, in the technological development of the state.
Ogbo, as if he knew nature will be so kind to assign responsibility of this magnitude in a hurry had cut his teeth from one of the foremost university in the land, the University of Ilorin. He had after graduation from an equally reputable Bayero University, got employed with Unilorin, though not to teach but to advance the minds through efficient utilisation of human and material resources in which he exhibited uncommon capacity that has earned him numerous awards within and outside the university system.
No wonder, the citizenry from all walks of lives applauded Governor Yahaya Bello for putting a round peg in a round hole by his appointment into this exalted position.
They noted with enthusiasm that Dr. Ogbo represent an exemplary determination to surmount challenges to become whom God want him to be. He is a shining example to the youth that one can reach his goals in life if he carefully select them and work for its success by avoiding “what will be will be” belief.
His sojourn at the University of Ilorin with rapid progression in the work place does not scare him to seek for more academic knowledge which without break got his Doctorate Degree in Philosophy (PHD) at a record time making entry into the world of academic a tea party. He got enlisted into the hall of academics as Assistant Lecturer with Kogi State University Anyigba after he had transferred his service from University of Ilorin in 2009.
This Political Scientist in a succession got promoted to senior lecturer and Head of Department, the speed considered supersonic in the academic world. However, all the management and academic prowess he has garnered needs to be translated into creating an epoch making difference in this institution.
His ability to reposition the ailing Polytechnic – to those who have been monitoring his progression – is not in doubt, but to the students and their parents, they are in a hurry to see Ogbo bring in his wealth of administrative expertise to rescue them from the rot that pervades the school for many years.
The watchers of the happenings in the school are urging him to set in motion mechanism to unravel the mystery behind the abandonment of the hostel renovation at the Lokoja main campus which was started by this administration and abandoned by same, forcing students to find solace in off campus accommodations with its attendant hazards of exhorbitant rents, insecurity and exhibition of deviant behaviours by the students.
The students and parents would be ever grateful to this man of destiny who is by every standard the youngest but mighty to the pulling down of strongholds that will superintend over the school, if he can galvanize resources to call back the contractor to site to complete the project so as to enable a return of the displaced students back to their residence in the campus would earn him the respect of all the lovers of all round education in the state.
Another area of concern to the stakeholders that will require urgent attention by a man who described himself as an emerging leader of Kogi East and less than a year of the pronouncement, it was confirmed by the appointment which has placed him in vantage position to influence the politics of the zone. And by his witting disposition may have vowed to stamp out the cankerworm of cultism bedevilling the polytechnic.
The stakeholders are in unison that his experience with the menace at the State University Anyigba placed him a higher pedestal to give technical knock out to the activities of these predators, and all that is required is for all members of the polytechnic community and stakeholders to cooperate with his uncommon method that will be deployed to fight the scourge. As it is with many tertiary institutions across the country, so it is with the polytechnic, a lamentable problem of examinations malpractice.
Kogi state although, for many academic sessions has not reported on a large scale cult related activities, but pockets of it do happen which the new Rector must confront headlong to permanently degrade its potency. And as a man who was a faculty adviser and a dean students affairs who performed his duties beyond reprimand, would not hesitate to enact his superior powers against the potential perpetrators.
In a sad token, the people and indeed the employers of labour across the organised private sector are having serious reservations with the quality of the certificates being churned out by the school. However, from findings, the Part Time program is the main culprit as many of the holders rarely understand letters or wording on their certificates not to talk of defending same with quality response to what is expected of the holder of such certificates. Hence, more emphasis should be devoted to ensuring quality teaching and learning through strict supervision of lecturers and students to save the institution from the toga of certificate racketeers.
Although, from findings, the Rector on assumption of office has hit the ground running by setting up various committees to assist him in removing the clog against development, he must network across board most especially the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) to help him both in the human capital development and physical structures of the polytechnics.
Just to remind him that one of his predecessors, Professor Matthew Ajibero had utilised the cordial relationship with the agency for the benefit of the school with multiple of tetfund projects adorning the landscape of the three campuses of the polytechnic.
In as much as his capacity to transform the school into a world class polytechnic is not in doubt, he should in earnest begin the process to offload not fewer than five sets who are yet to convocate thereby putting the future of these lads in jeopardy.
Consequently, with his track records in the university system spanning over a decade and with maximum cooperation from his employer, the state government, the sky will be a starting point for monumental growth of the polytechnic.
– Julius Atabor, a journalist, writes from Lokoja.
