The Kogi State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Wemi Jones, FCIB, has restated the commitment of His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello, to ensure massive education transformation across the state.

Jones gave the assurance in Lokoja, while speaking to journalists shortly after monitoring the conduct of 2021 Basic Six Examination (First School Leaving Certificate Examination), held on Saturday across the state..

According to him, the ministry has ensured that a lot of contingency approaches are put in place which had resulted in tremendous improvement upon the last year’s exercise.

”That is why we are having this result that is being attested to by the teachers and other stakeholders’.

”They all acknowledged that there were much more improvements in this exam upon that of last year.

”We have three major internal examinations which are: Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), Common Entrance Examination (CEE), and Basic Six Certificate Examination or School Leaving Certificate Examination.

”My advice to everybody is that we should all be on ground as a team right from the ministry to make sure that things work well and accordingly”, he said.

Represented by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Pastor Emmanuel Idenyi, the Commissioner urged teachers, parents and pupils to continue to play their roles to ensure compliance with examination requirements and processes at all time.

He assured that the ministry would continue to play its roles, work together as a team by ensuring that they operate according to the drafted action plans.

He added that team work would also complement the Governor’s efforts in transforming education sector, to take its prime place through massive infrastructural transformation in the state.

He emphasised that His Excellency had given the Ministry enough priority through the 20 per cent allocation to education sector from the state annual Budget beginning from last year.

He added that there were ongoing massive constructions and rehabilitations of education infrastructures especially the ongoing GYB Model Secondary schools’ project across the state.

”We must play our role to make sure we complement the effort of His Excellency, to take education to a better place.

”I want to assure you that there will be massive transformation in education sector across the state under this present administration led by His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello”, he said.

Also speaking, Mr Dipo Ayenibe, the Director Exams, Admissions and Certifications of the Ministry, commended the Commissioner and the Permanent Secretary, for giving them a level playing ground to perform their roles without any interference.

According to Ayenibe, 5,300 pupils are sitting for the exam in Lokoja, and about 45,000 pupils of both public and private schools across the state.

Some of the Teachers at the schools’ visited, commended the State Government and the Ministry for putting the necessary arrangements in place to ensue smooth and hitch free internal examinations.

Mr Ameen Lawal, a Teacher at Model 3 LGEA Adankolo, Lokoja, said, ”as far as this examination is concern, there has been no challenge, everything has been going on smoothly.

”We received all the necessary materials for the exam very early, and we started on time according to the exam time table.

”I give kudos to the State Government and Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, for this tremendous improvement upon the exercise compared to 2020 internal examinations.

The Head Teacher of Saint Luke Model School Adankolo, Mr Abubakar Sani, said that the conduct of the exam has been very orderly and far better than that of last year.

Sani commended the State Government and the Ministry for putting the necessary thing in place which had ensured a successful and hitch free examination exercise

Other schools visited were: Saint Mary LGEA School, Saint Luke Model School Adankolo, Lokongoma LGEA School, among others.

End

The Kogi State Government on Tuesday unveiled the Kogi State Education Law 2020, that will guide the operations of schools and activities of other relevant education stakeholders in the state.

The Kogi State Education Law 2020 was unveiled at the ‘Stakeholders’ Meeting On Education Law And Other Matter”, on Tuesday in Lokoja.

In his remarks, the state’s Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Wemi Jones, FCIB, thanked all the stakeholders for the roles played in ensuring that the law came into reality.

He noted that the education stakeholders’ meeting was in continuation of the various levels of stakeholders engagement that the ministry had planned to do.

He said that the education friendly Governor, His Excellency Alhaji Yahaya Bello, had given the Ministry his full backing for the full implementation of every section of the law.

”Today, we have met with the highest category of education stakeholders in the state. So, we are now fully ready to commence full implementation because we have carried everybody along”, he said.

The Commissioner also stressed the need to take the issue of schools’ security very seriously, and need for synergy among stakeholders to ensure adequate security in schools.

He eulogised the Governor for being very proactive in all sectors especially in the area of security, which had made Kogi one of the safest States in Nigeria.

”We thank God no single student has been kidnapped in Kogi, but we must not take it for granted. We must redouble our effort, synergise and ensure adequate security in our schools”, he said.

Jones further advised against examination malpractice, cultism, and misconducts in any form, warning that the State Government was fully ready to severely sanction any erring school, individual or their accomplices.

He specifically warned schools’ Principals against any form of exam malpractice in their various schools, saying any erring principal would be severely sanctioned.

He added: ”It is the responsibility of principals to ensure that no examination malpractice is perpetrated in their various schools. We are going to pay special attention to ‘Miracle Centres’ ”.

He noted that the ministry had done data capturing of Private schools operating in the state, adding that public schools’ data capturing would soon commence.

He advised private schools that were yet to come to the ministry for data capturing to do so in earnest, warning that such schools would be sanctioned according to the relevant sections of the education law 2020.

”For those private schools’ owners who are yet to come for data capturing, we are going to open another window next week about three to four days for them to come and register.

”’If they fail to do the needful within the four days, I am afraid we may be left with no option than to sanction them depending on the relevant sections of the law which may include closure of certain schools”, he said.

He commended the stakeholders for the massive turnout, saying it was very impressive.

Stakeholders at the meeting included: Heads of all Public and Private Tertiary Institutions in the state, SUBEB, STETSCOM, ANCOPSS, NAPPS, NTI, NYSC, TRCN, WAEC, NECO, JAMB, Religious bodies, TUC, ASUSS, among others.

Some of the stakeholders in their separate comments, commended the Governor for his political will in accenting to the Kogi State Education Law 2020, since the state’s creation about 30 years ago.

They further commended the Commissioner for his efforts and commitment in ensuring the realization of the law, and urged him to ensure its full implementation without fear or favour.

Mr Awodi Robert Yusufu, the State President of All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPPS), Kogi chapter, said the law would put education in Kogi on its pedestal and help in policing making, curb exam practice, among others.

On their parts, Comrade Ojo Ranti, the State Chairman of Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS); and Dr Solomon Nuhu Anyegwu, the Provost, College of Health, Sciences and Technology, Idah, both called for the perimeter fencing of schools to ensure security.

Ojo, who doubles as the State Chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC), commended the state government for the education law, 20 per cent annual budget to education, and prompt payment of salaries to state workers.

He, however called on the State Government for the recruitment of more teachers, end percentage payment of salaries to Local Government workers and implement the minimum wage in the state.

Also speaking, the Rector of Kogi State Polytechnic, Dr Usman Igbo, commended the Governor for performing excellently in the area of security and for giving them the necessary support to curb cultism and other social vices in various higher institutions in the state.

He explained that under his leadership the management of Kogi Poly had been able to put necessary things in place to curb cultism, exam malpractice, and other misconducts through adequate synergy with security agencies and other relevant stakeholders.

He said that the institution had expelled over 150 students from the school due to various offences such as cultism, exam malpractice and other misconducts, irrespective of tribes or religions.

The rector, therefore commended the Commissioner for the education law and called for its full implementation without fear or favour.

The highlight of the occasion was the unveiling and launching of the Kogi State Education Law 2020, anchored by Dr Gabriel Ottah, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Science and Technology.

End

The Kogi State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Wemi Jones, FCIB, on Monday described the conduct of the ongoing National Teachers’ Institute (NTI) Examinations in the state as ‘quite impressive’.

Jones made the statement while speaking to journalists shortly after monitoring the conduct of the National Certificate of Education (NCE) and Bachelors Degree Programme examinations at Holy Trinity Primary School centre in Lokoja.

The Commissioner noted that the NTI Council had a three-day meeting in Abuja last week where the council members were mandated to visit examination centres in their respective States to monitor the conduct of the exams.

According to him, the monitoring of the nationwide exercise is to ensure that examination standards are maintained and complied with,

”So, we are here today at Holy Trinity Primary school exam centre Lokoja, to ensure that standard are complied with.

”So far, I must say that I am quite impressive because nobody was aware that the commissioner was coming to visit; and I think the standard are being maintained and it is quite impressive.

”Tomorrow, we will be visiting exam centres outside Lokoja, to also monitor and see what is happening in other centres outside Lokoja municipal.

”We want to check and see whether it is only in Lokoja that the standards are being maintained, or the standards are also being maintained statewide”, Jones said.

Also speaking, Mr Sodiq Shehu Abubakar, from Quality Assurance and ICT Department, NTI Kaduna, who was in Kogi to supervise the exams, told journalists that the exams had been moving on smoothly without hitches.

”I have been sent here for monitoring and evaluation of the conduct of NTI examinations in Kogi State, and so far things have been moving smoothly as you can see.

”The candidates are teachers who have intentions of upgrading themselves on the job or those who seek to secure teaching qualifications and want to improve themselves.

”Presently, we are having BDP and NCE examinations ongoing. On Saturday, we will also hold exam for Postgraduate students who have graduated but does not have any teaching qualifications”, Abubakar said.

The Commissioner was accompanied by the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Education, Hon. Mohammed Ohiani.

End

The State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology Hon. Wemi Jones, FCIB, made the call at the Three-Day Pre-Inspection Meeting of the Monitoring Inspectors of Students Exchange Programme (SEP) of the 19 Northern States, holding at the ministry’s Conference hall in Lokoja.

Jones said that the SEP among the 19 northern states had been in existence for ages and should be sustained by ensuring adequate security and better welfare for the students and quality teachers.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Pastor Emanuel Idenyi, Jones said Kogi was doing its best to see to the welfare and improving the academic performances of the students in the two schools in the state.

He stressed that the essence of the SEP was to foster unity and improve academic excellence amongst the States

The commissioner urged the participants to always take the issue of security seriously by building perimeter fencing around the schools and providing enough security for the schools and as well check on them from time to time.

‘At the level of our state, we are trying our best to ensure that the right things are done. We have ensured we treated the students like our children and provide best teachers and welfare for them.

”I want to believe that other States are trying their best in doing the same too.

”We should try as much as possible to sustain the gesture; we met on ground and we must strive to keep the legacy and build on it”, he said.

He further urged the participants to observe COVID-19 protocols even though Kogi had been free of the virus.

Earlier, the Director, Kogi State Basic and Secondary Education, Mrs Sarah Agbaji, said the ministry would continue to support and encourage the programme because of it objectives and benefits

She urged on the government to maintain the existing structure and facilities to enhance smooth running of the programme.

Agbaji noted that checking on the students unannounced by the Monitoring Inspectors from time to time and interacting with them would encourage discipline and academic excellence.

She thanked the Commissioner and the Permanent Secretary for being so supportive in ensuring that the aims and objectives of the exchange students were achieved.

She further thanked the Commissioner for providing the enabling environment for them to operate.

Also speaking, the Chairperson, SEP Monitoring Inspection Unit, from Kaduna State, Hajiya Hannatu Gwani, appreciated Kogi State Government for hosting the nineteen northern states

She further urged the participants to be ICT compliant to ease their work and enable them compete favorable with their counterparts in the other part of the world.

A participant from Nasarawa State, Alhaji Aliyu Yahaya, comended the government for their efforts, stressing the need for the schools to always send their students back to their respective States on time and avoid night journeys.

Compiled By Ademu Seidu, .

PRO MOEST

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By Stephen Adeleye

The Kogi Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Wemi Jones, FCIB, says it has become an offence in the State for a child of school age not to be in school or hawking during school hour.

Jones stated this on Thursday in Lokoja, at a Stakeholders’ Sensitisation Meeting on the newly enacted Kogi State Education Law.

According to the Commissioner, it has become an offence in the State for a child of school age not to be in school or hawking during school hour as stipulated in Section 9 of the Kogi education law.

”If any child is seeing hawking or doing anything during school hour, that child shall be apprehended by the Special Marshals that will be put in place till the parent or guardian of such child come forward to give cogent reason the child is not in school, and we are very serious about this”, he said.

The Commissioner also added that the issue of proliferation of private schools had become a source of concern and worry to the state government, saying Section 20 provides and stipulates the conditions for such establishment.

He, however said that those schools that were already established and did not meet the stipulated conditions would be given ample time to come to the Ministry and do the needful.

He added that henceforth every private school that want to operate in Kogi State, must get themselves register with National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS).

The Commissioner also added that all illegal schools operating in Kogi would be shut down as stipulated by the enact education law

”We are going to be closing all illegal schools in the state as we have been empowered by Section 20, subsection 3, of the education law.

He further added that the advent of law would ensure that all schools in Kogi including Missions schools either private or public, have uniformity in Academic Calendar from the ministry that must be strictly complied with in the state.

He also noted that MOCK examination being a preparatory for WAEC, and therefore said that every school operating in Kogi must come under the ministry for MOCK examination as from 2022.

”Beginning from 2022, all MOCK examinations in Kogi must come under the ministry of education, science and technology”, he said.

He further warned that the issues of examination malpractice and the so called ‘miracle centres’, would come to an end in Kogi, saying the education law has empowered the ministry to punish perpetrators.

He disclosed that about 68 secondary schools were derecgnised and 168 severely warned by WAEC in 2020, in Kogi State as a result of examination malpractice.

”It has become a crime for you to harvest other students and put them in your school for examinstion all in the name of miracle centres.

”We will checkmate the incident of miracle centres which had led to a great embarrassment to the state. We can no longer allow ourselves to be embarrassed”, Jones said.

The commissioner further added that disciplines of erring teachers would also be enforced as stipulated in the state education law.

He, therefore advised all the proprietors, principals, head teachers of schools and other relevant stakeholders to study the enacted Kogi education law, and align with it.

Jones thanked God Almighty for making the education law a reality, which has put Kogi education on the pedestal of acceptable global standard.

He commended the governor for his dedication to education who had said it severally that ”posterity will not forgive us if we failed to revamp education in Kogi.

He, therefore promised that the Kogi Education would become a sector that other States would come to learn from.

The State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Ibrahim Mohammed SAN, who did the presentation of Kogi Education law, thanked the governor for his passion for education.

He commended the commissioner for the giant strides the state had recorded in education sector, saying the education law was a commendable effort.

Represented by Barr. Adeniyi Moraiyewa, Director Legal Practice, Ministry of Justice, Mohammed noted that several efforts had been made in the past to bring about the education law but was never materialised.

According to him, the purpose of the education law is to enact law that guides the activities of Pre-Primary, Primary, and Post Primary Schools in the state.

He, therefore urged the relevant stakeholders to thoroughly study the law and ensure total compliance.

In his vote of thanks, Dr Gabriel Ottah, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, described the education law as ”a core practical education development in the state”.

Ottah extolled the commissioner for the great achievement saying he had succeeded in written his name in gold in the anals of education in the state.

He urged the education stakeholders to be guided and abide by the law, saying, ”once it is law, we must abide all abide by it until it is reviewed and amended”.

He warned the Principals and Head Teachers of schools not to harbour illegal study centres in the state, saying there schools were not home for study centres.

He also warned the principals not to give admission to any new students into SSS3 and JSS3 in the state henceforth, saying it has become a crime as stipulated by the law.

Earlier in his opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Pastor Emmanuel Idenyi, said Kogi State was created in 1991, but without Education law.

Idenyi Commended the governor and the Commissioner for their passion for education in the state and ensuring the realisation of the education law.

”The project for the education law project is a favoured project because of the speedy passage of the bill by Kogi Assembly and for promptly assented to by the Governor”.

In their goodwill messages, the Chairmen of SUBEB, Mr Suleiman Ndalaye; and Chairperson of STETSCOM, Mrs Cecilia Cook, commended the commissioner for being a workaholic personality with passion to change the narrative in the state’s education sector.

Cook noted that the Education law will ensure uniformity in the conduct of MOCK Exams and all activities of education sector in the state would be guided by the law.

The state’s Chairman of NAPPS, Mr Yaqeen Habib, said that the private schools in the state were certainly delighted with the Commissioner for ensuring the reality of the state education law.

He, however stressed the need to have a law that capture education in its entirety, saying, ”I hope this law captures all worries expressed by NAPPS during the public hearing”.

Other stakeholders at the sensitisation meeting were: CSOs, NGOs ANCOPPS, among others.

END

By Stephen Adeleye

The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Wemi Jones, FCIB, on Tuesday extended his final tour of assessment of the four Government Technical Colleges (GTCs) in the State to Government Technical College, Mopa in Mopamuro LGA.

Speaking to journalists after inspecting the college facilities, the Commissioner assured that the four Government Technical Colleges (GTCs) in Kogi, would soon undergo massive renovations, rehabilitations and refurbishments.

He said that government would revamp the colleges,in order to produce adequate students as intake into the new Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara, and other higher institutions in the state.

He noted that the government could not afford to allow learners from the neighbouring States to be more beneficial of the institutions than the indigenes who labored for them.

He stressed the need to support indigenous learners from Kogi to be the primary beneficiaries of whatever would be done in the state’s institutions.

According to him, the first point of call among the four GTCs, was Oboroke in Okehi LGA, then to Ankpa, Idah, and today we rounded up at Government Technical College, Mopa in Mopamuro LGA.

”,We have seen the various levels of dilapidations of strictures in those four schools.

”Luckily, there is an allocation in the state 2021 education budget, for renovation, rehabilitation and refurbishment of the four government technical colleges in the state.

”After this visit, there will be another round of tour to be led by the Director Science and Technology of the ministry, in order to have some detail discussion with the management of the colleges.

”We will come up with estimates, and our memo will begin to fly, and approvals will follow. Whatever thing we have to do would be done immediately, because we have no time to waste.

”We do not expect that the next rainy season will come and meet those schools in that form; it is going be disastrous.

” So, we are going to work assiduously to ensure we get all the approvals for us to commence renovation and rehabilitation of our technical colleges”, he said.

Jones re-emphasised that His Excellency, Gov. Yahaya Bello was committed to revamping all the four state’s technical colleges, and create 17 additional ones in the remaining 17 local government areas of Kogi.

Earlier, the Vice Chairman of Mopamuro LGA, Hon. Mercy Obajemu, led a team from the council to receive the commissioner and his entourage, on behalf of the Chairman, Hon Sunday Alumo.

The vice chairman commended the commissioner for his visit to personally assess the facilities in the school

She further expressed her appreciation to His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello, for his commitment to revamping education sector especially technical education in the state.

The vice chairman, however solicited for the intervention of the state government for the rehabilitation of other secondary schools in the council, whose structures had been dilapidated.

The Principal of GTC, Mopa, Mr Olusegun Ode, commended the commissioner and his team for the visit, saying he was so happy for the action.

He thanked the governor for his intervention to resuscitating the college, while appealing for provision of adequate qualified teachers.

The Government Technical College, Mopa established in 1975.

The commissioner further inspected UBEC/JSS and LGEA School Kakun, in Kabba/Bunu LGA, where he assured the community that Government would do everything it could to improve the school.

Jones said he had personally adopted the school as his own, and promised to do his best in collaboration with the community leaders to uplift the school.

The Commissioner was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary, Pastor Emmanuel Idenyi, Director Science and Technology, Mr Dipo Aiyenibe, and other staff of the ministry.

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Jones have the commendation in a statement he released on Tuesday in Lokoja, to mark the one year anniversary of the governor’s second term, and five years in office as the fifth Executive Governor of Kogi State.

According to the statement, hearty congratulations on your ine year of second term In office as the fifth Executive Governor of Kogi does

”On behalf of the Management and Staff of Kogi State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MOEST), I, Hon. Wemi Jones, FCIB, heartily felicitates with our dynamic and visionary leader, the Executive Governor, His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello, and His Deputy, Chief Edward David Onoja, on this auspicious occasion of your one year of second term in office.

”For us in the education sector, your Excellency’s landmark achievements during the period under review had been phenomenal.

”Your aggressive step in the establishment of Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara, the upgrading of School of Agriculture, Ochaja, from Certificate to Diploma Awarding Institution, and the Government’s policies on science and technology education from basic to tertiary among others are unprecedented in the history of Kogi State.

”It is our fervent prayer that the Almighty God grant your Excellency more wisdom to pilot the affairs of Kogi State to a greater height.

”Once again, congratulations!

”Long Live Kogi State MOEST!
Long Live Kogi State!!
Long Live Federal Republic of Nigeria”!!!
Jones said.

End

Kogi State Government has urged host communities of public schools to halt the habit of encroachment on the school land, warning that government would take decisive action against perpetrators.

The State’s Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Wemi Jones, FCIB, gave the warning after he led a team on an inspection tour of the facilities at Government Technical Colleges in Ankpa and Idah at the Eastern senatorial district of the State.

He urged the host communities to those colleges to stop encroaching the school land, stressing that government would do everything possible to recover all its encroached land across the state.

Jones added that the state government would be soliciting the cooperation of the paramount rulers of those communities to help persuade the land grabbers to desist from such act.
.
”If you build your structure on school land no matter how beautiful it is, you are merely wasting your time and resources as far as government is concerned.

”Land speculators are deceiving themselves because you don’t have a land or property if you have built illegally on the school land, and the law is going to catch up with you very soon,” Jones siad.

He noted that government was looking at revamping the colleges, to be getting adequate students as intake into the new Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara.

The commissioner restated the commitment of the state’s Governor, Alh. Yahaya Bello, to revamping education especially technical education in the state.

”As I have said it severally in various fora that His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello is irreversibly committed to revamping education in our state, and technical education takes a primary place if we are ever going to get it right in this country.

”This is because of the fact that the moment you are out of technical college ordinarily you have a vocation that you can then decide to build upon”, he said.

According to him, there is a need to take care of our secondary schools and technical colleges so as to adequately feed our students into those state own tertiary institutions.

”We are here on a visit to the technical colleges to know the level of work to do in rehabilitating and revamping them.

”Presently, we have four state own technical colleges in Kogi, which include: Oboroke, Ankpa, Idah and Mopa, and we have visited three to assess their facilities.

”We will be visiting the fourth one in Mopa before the end of this week by God’s grace”, he said.

Jones emphasised that the state government would revamp all the four state’s technical colleges, and create 17 additional ones in the remaining 17 local government areas of Kogi State.

He added that the establishment of additional 17 technical colleges was already a law in the state, saying, ”we already have a template to run the colleges effectively.

”It is going to be immediate thing, because His Excellency is irreversibly committed to ensuring that education is totally revamped in Kogi”, Jones said.

He noted that adequate provision had been made for the the resuscitation of the four existing technical colleges in the 2021 budget.

The Principal of Government Technical College, Idah, Mr Abdullahi, commended the commissioner and his team for the visit, saying he was so happy for the action.

Ibrahim also thanked the governor for his intervention in resuscitating all the technical colleges in the state, while appealing for provision of adequate qualified teachers.

The principal also appealed the commissioner to help the schools to recover all school land that had been encroached by individuals in their host communities.

In the Commissioner’s team, were the Permanent Secretary, Kogi MOEST, Pastor Emmanuel Idenyi; Director Science and Technology, Mr Dipo Aiyenibe; and Director Tertiary Education, Mrs Taiye Bolu, among others.

The Government Technical College, Ankpa, was established in 1975, while that of Idah was established in 1959 and had its present principal, Abdullahi Ibrahim as its 35th principal of the college.

End

Kogi State Government on Tuesday appealed to communities in the state to protect public institutions by taking ownership of the facilities and ensure adequate security.

The State’s Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Wemi Jones, FCIB, made the appeal at the palace of Onu Ochaja, HRH Chief Yahaya Ibrahim, during an inspection tour to the newly upgraded College of Agriculture, Ochaja, Dekina LGA of Kogi State.

The commissioner noted that His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello, had given approval for the School of Agriculture, Ochaja, to be upgraded from a Certificate awarding institution to a Diploma awarding institution.

Jones noted that essence of his visit to the college was for him to see at a closer range all the things needed to be put in place for commencement of academic activities.

He assured that academic activities would safely commence at the institution before the end of March 2021, using borrowed two secondary schools’ facilities in the community.

”We intend to work with the deadline given by His Excellency for academic activities to commence at the school, after we have appointed the principal officers of the institution,” he said.

The Commissioner noted that the school being an agricultural based institution would create employments, entrepreneural skills, and take a lot of youths away from the streets and reduce the rate of criminality in the community.

Jones appealed to the monarch and the people of the community to give maximum support to the government by protecting the facilities from ruins.

He further urged the community to ensure adequate maintenance and security of the facilities, staff and students, and take ownership of the college.

In his response, the Traditional Ruler, Onu Ochaja, Chief Yahaya Ibrahim, thanked the governor for remembering them in the community in upgrading the college into a Diploma awarding institution.

The royal father also commended the commissioner for visiting the college to see things for himself, and ensuring that academic activities commenced in earnest.

The traditional ruler assured that adequate security would be provided for the staff and students of the college including the facilities.

The monarch stressed that his late father had suffered a lot and made several efforts to ensure that life came back to the institution but all to no avail.

He, therefore, eulogised the governor for considering it fit by given the approval for the upgrade of the college to diploma awarding institution.

The Commissioner was accompanied by his counterparts in the Ministry of Rural Development, Hon. Daniel Ejigbo, an indigene the local government area, who promised that the State Government would give a transformer to the community.

Others in the Commissioner’s team were: the Permanent Secretary, Kogi MOEST, Pastor Emmanuel Idenyi; Director Science and Technology, Mr Dipo Aiyenibe; and Director Tertiary Education, Mrs Taiye Bolu, among others.

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The state Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Wemi Jones, FCIB, made the remark while speaking with newsmen after he led a team from the ministry to monitor students’ resumption in schools in Lokoja.

“We are very comfortable with the turnout of students and we are pleased with the level of compliance with safety protocols on COVID-19.

”It is quite encouraging and impressive in all the public and private schools we visited”, he said..

He stressed that there had been no panic in Kogi State as far as COVID-19 was concerned, saying the state had never recorded any death of student on account of COVID-19 pandemic.

The commissioner, however advised the students to take personal responsibility for their personal hygiene, take good care of themselves and their environment both at home and in school, saying, ”we will not lose any of you in Jesus name”.

He urged the teachers to immediately hit the ground running and cover the lost time as soon as possible, saying there was a very limited time.

He directed the principals of schools to always conduct assessment test for students on the first day of resumption of each term in order to encourage students’ turnout.

Earlier while addressing the students, the Commissioner welcomed them back to school, adding that the State Government had been very proactive in ensuring that schools were safe for resumption for students.

He urged the students to study very hard and focused on their academic so as to make their family, the state and the nation proud.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Pastor Emmanuel Idenyi, advised parents and guardians to release their wards for resumption, saying the term was too short for any student to miss any lecture.

Idenyi further urged principals and head teachers to strictly comply with the revised academic calendar from the ministry for schools in the state.

On his part, Mr Godwin Yakubu, the Principal, Government Day Secondary School (GDSS), Adankolo, Lokoja, thanked the commissioner for monitoring schools to ensure compliance.

Yakubu, who doubles as the National Secretary of All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), commended Governor Yahaya Bello, for his undaunted support for education in the state.

Yakubu further called on principals of schools across the federation to adhere strictly to the safety protocols on COVID-19 pandemic.

Some of the students, Julius Solomon in JSS 2 and Aminat Rufai in SSS3 at GDSS, said that they were very happy to be back to school in spite the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic across the country.

Other schools visited were: Bishop Cowther Memorial College, Muslim Community Secondary School, Bishop Delisle College, Saint Luke Primary School, Saint Clement Minor Seminary, UBE/JSS Adankolo, Lokoja, among others.

Compiled By Ademu Seidu H.

PRO, KOGI MOEST

End