Olu Samuel, Lokoja

Kogi State Governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello has distributed 11,000 Physics and Chemistry text books to Senior Secondary Schools across the three Senatorial District, under the Kogi State Government School adoption and mentorship programme.

Speaking on Friday at the flagging off ceremony at the Abdulazeez Attah Memorial College Okene, Governor Bello commended the Kogi State Auditor General for Local Government Alhaji Usman Ododo for keying into his vision to transform the educational sector from what it used to be in the past.

Bello explained that, his administration in the history of Nigeria allocated 30 percent of Kogi State budget for 2022 to education, which is far more than the 26 percent required by UNESCO.

The Governor emphasized that, his administration instituted an educational law which empowers the government to deal decisively with anyone who intends to jeopardize the development of the educational sector.

Governor Bello who was represented by the Kogi State Commissioner for Education Science and Technology Hon. Wemi Jones stated emphatically that, the registration of new schools will no longer be business as usual, adding that, under his leadership, his administration has recorded remarkable achievement in educational sector which includes the establishment of Confluence University of Science and Technology, recruitment of qualified teachers and the construction Modern Science Secondary School to boost innovations in Kogi State and Nigeria in general.

According to him, the Kogi State Government School adoption and mentorship programme is aimed at encouraging the people to support the educational system in Kogi State, juts as it will make everyone self sufficient.

He, however, warned that, the books are free of charge for the students and should not be sold, as any one caught commercializing the text books will be disciplined.

The highly elated Governor, used the opportunity to charged the students to always digest books distributed to them stressing that, they should take advantage of the newly established Confluence University of Science and Technology Osara.

The Governor told the gathering that, his administration is building a platform were Kogi State will be the educational hub in North Central Nigeria.

Earlier in her welcome remarks, the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics Ministry of Kogi Dr Elizabeth Animoku admonished stakeholders to key into the vision of the Kogi State Government towards improve the educational sector across the State.

While appreciating the achievement recorded so far by the present administration in Kogi State, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Governor Yahaya Bello on informal and vocational education Nana Hawa Raji called on stakeholders to key into the school adoption and mentorship programme of the present administration, stressing that, it will help to bridge the gap in the educational intervention program that is needed in Kogi State.

She applaudes the initiative of the Local Government auditor general, adding that, it will help the students in their academic career.

In their goodwill messages, the Ohi of Adavi M.O Bello who spoke on behalf of traditional rulers in Central Senatorial Districts and the Chairman of Okene Local Area Hon. Abdulrazaq Muhammed, both lauded the state Government for prioritizing education.

According to them, the easiest way to destroy a society is to collapse the education sector which should be discouraged.

Other stakeholders including students who spoke at the event all commended Governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello and the State Auditor General of Local Government for making Kogi State the pride of the world in terms of educational development.