The Kogi Government on Friday, threatened heavy sanctions to any school and principal involved in any form of examination malpractices in the state.

The State’s Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Wemi Jones, FCIB, gave the warning at the inauguration of distribution of free Chemistry and Physics textbooks to 95 public school students in Kogi West Senatorial district at Saint Augustine College Kabba.

He noted that 61 secondary schools in Kogi was recently de-recognised by the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) on account of malpractices in the 2022 West Africa Secondary School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE).

According to him, similar complain was tendered by the examination body in 2019, where 51 secondary schools were involved, noting that things got better in 2020 and 2021 when the numbers of derecognised schools were reduced drastically from 51 to only one.

This, he said was as a result of serious warning by the ministry of education to principals of schools coupled with the commitment and determination of the state government to halt examination malpractices in the state.

The Commissioner lamented that just on Thursday, WAEC officials forwarded a letter to his office intimating the ministry that 61 secondary schools were grossly involved in examination malpractices in the 2022 examination.

“This, I am not going to let it go. We are going to sanction any principal found wanting in this unwholesome behaviour trying to tarnish the good image and reputation we have built in examination conduct in the state.

“The ministry of education will set up a committee that will investigate the involvement of principals in this disgraceful act before we sanction appropriately to serve as deterrent to others.

”The state government can not be investing hugely in education sector then somebody somewhere will be sabotaging our efforts

“We are aware that when WAEC charged registration fees of N23,000, but principals charged over N40,000 ” logistic” involved to indulge in examination malpractices.

”We are not unaware, we will curb the situation by sanctioning whoever found wanting in the act according to the 2020 Kogi State Educational Law.

”We will kill ‘miracles centers’ in Kogi, we will halt all forms of examination malpractices, and some erring schools would be closed down,” the commissioners warned.

He, therefore warned all schools’ principals in the state against involvement in any form of examination malpractices, saying defaulters would face heavy sanctions according to the state’s education law.

Jones also frown on the existing of illegal private tertiary institutions in the state, and assured that very soon the ministry would clampdown on them..

The commissioner enjoined the affected tertiary institutions to put their house in order by doing the heedful.

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The State’s Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Wemi Jones, FCIB, made the call during the flagg-off distribution of free Chemistry and Physics textbooks to public school students in Kogi West Senatorial district, on Thursday at Saint Augustine College Kabba.

The free science textbooks totaling 11,000 for the entire state, was sponsored and donated by Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, the Kogi Auditor-General for Local Government, in support of the State Government’s school adoption and mentorship programme.

The commissioner commended the donor for boosting Gov. Yahaya Bello Administration’s effort to revamping education in the state.

Jones noted that the distribution of the textbooks had been inaugurated and distributed at Okene for Central and Idah for the Eastern senatorial districts.

The commissioner noted that the intervention by Ododo remained the biggest so far in the state since the commencement of the programme, saying it was massive across the three senatorial districts.

He, therefore appealed to individuals and organisations to support government’s efforts through the programme by adopting schools and mentoring of students for excellence to bringing back the glory of education in the state.

”You don’t need all the money to adopt a school or to mentor our students; sharing your experience alone with the students is enough motivation for them to boost their morale,” he said.

Jones stressed the commitment of His Excellency to continue to give utmost priority to education sector particularly the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

The commissioner warned schools’ principals and teachers against selling the textbooks, saying government had set machinery in motion to apprehend any erring officials.

He advised the students to utilise the textbooks effectively by studying hard, saying examination malpractice is forbidden in the state.

He further warned all schools’ principals in the state against involvement in examination malpractice, saying defaulters would face heavy sanctions according to the state’s education law.

”We will kill ‘miracles centers’ in Kogi, we will halt all forms of examination malpractices, and some erring schools would be closed down,” the commissioners warned.

In their goodwill messages, Mr Robert Awodi, the President of All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), and Mr Ranti Ojo, the state’s Chairman, Academic Staff Union Of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), both thanked the donor for the gesture

The unions commended the governor for given topmost priority to education in the state, and assured the government of their maximum support.

They further commended the education commissioner for the initiative and for his unprecedented achievements in the sector, saying history would forever remember him for the legacy.

On their part, the Authors of the textbooks, Engr. Yusub Ibrahim and Engr. Yusuf Isah, who are both Lecturers at FUTMINNA, said the leading feature about the books was its learner’s friendly, saying it was a good opportunity for the students and the teachers to utilise.

The authors commended the governor and the commissioner for partnering with them and for making the textbooks to see the light of the day.

In her vote of thanks, Hon Nana Raji, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Vocational and Informal Education, appreciated all the relevant stakeholders for making the project a huge success.

She urged the students to make good use of the textbooks for their own benefits as well as fulfilling the donor’s good intentions.

Some students, Hannah Oloruntoba, Goodluck Osarumwenser, from Lokoja and Kabba/Bunu LGAs, who spoke on behalf of others, thanked the government and the donor for the gesture, and promised to utilise the books effectively.

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The Kogi State Government, on Tuesday extended the distribution of free science textbooks to Senior Secondary Secondary (SSS 2) students in public schools in the Eastern Senatorial district of the state.

The free 11,000 Chemistry and Physics textbooks, was sponsored and donated by Alhaji Usman Ododo, the Kogi Auditor-General for Local Government, in support of the State Government’s School Adoption and Mentorship Programme.

Speaking at Our Lady of Schools (OLS), Anyigba, Gov. Yahaya Bello, commended the donor for boosting his Administration’s effort to revamping education and for extending the gesture across all the three senatorial district.

Bello, who was represented by the State’s Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Wemi Jones, FCIB, said that the distribution of the 11,000 science textbooks was inaugurated on November 12, at Okene, in Kogi Central.

Bello reaffirmed his commitment to continue to give utmost priority to education sector particularly the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

The governor stressed that education remained the most expensive venture that any government could fund, and expressed his full support for the school adoption and mentorship programme.

The governor enjoined individuals and organisations to support government’s efforts through its School Adoption and Mentorship Programme to bringing back the glory of education in the state.

The governor advised the schools’ principals against selling the textbooks, saying government had put machinery in motion to ensure the books were effectively utilised as intended.

Bello noted that the education ministry was already working with another individual who has volunteered to sponsor the production of Mathematics textbooks.

He further said that the state government during the recent State Executive Council (SEC) meeting, approved the elongation of service years for teachers from 35 to 40 years in service as well as 60 to 65 years’ retirement age.

The governor stressed that Kogi remained the first State to domesticate such education policy of the federal government on the elongation of teachers’ service years.

He disclosed that the government would round up the ongoing teachers’ recruitment processes in the next two weeks.

”We need adequate and competent human resources that will teach in our schools, and that is why we have ensured a transparent recruitment processes from the aptitude test to the final employment.

”You can not achieve anything meaningful in life without education. We are bringing back the glory of education to Kogi State,” he said.

He, therefore urged the students to utilise the textbooks effectively by studying hard, saying there was no more room for examination malpractice in the state.

The governor warned that any erring student, teacher as well as parent involved in examination malpractice would be prosecuted in line with the newly enacted education law of the state.

In their goodwill messages, Mr David Apeh, Kogi Commissioner for Agriculture; Dr Gabriel Ottah, Special Adviser to the Governor on Information & Communication; and Prof. Daniel Atidoga, the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academics, Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU), all commended the donor for the gesture.

They praised the governor for given topmost priority to education and his determination and commitment to revamping the sector in the state.

They commended the education commissioner for the initiative and for his unprecedented achievements in the sector, saying history would not forget him.

On their part, Mr Robert Awodi, the President of All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), and Mr Ojo Ranti, the state’s Chairman, Academic Staff Union Of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), both thanked the donor for extending the distribution of the textbooks across the state.

The unions commended the governor for given approval for elongation service years and retirement age for teachers in the state.

Some of the students, Fatima Yusuf from Holy Rosery College, Idah; Umar Farouk, and Goodness Egbunu from Community Secondary, Abocho, all expressed their excitement over the free textbooks, saying it would help them to pass their exams.

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Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State on Friday, inaugurated the distribution of 11, 000 free textbooks to to all Senior Secondary Secondary (SSS 2) students in public schools across the three senatorial districts state.

The donation of the Chemistry and Physics textbooks was sponsored by Alh. Ahmad Usman Ododo, the Kogi Auditor General of Local Government in support of the State Government’s School Adoption and Mentorship Programme.

Speaking at the flagg-off ceremony at Abdulaziz Atta Memorial College, Okene, the governor commended the donor for the gesture in supporting education in the state.

Bello, who was represented by the State’s Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Wemi Jones, FCIB, said his Administration had given topmost priority to education especially Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

The governor emphasised that his commitment to revamping education sector in the state necessitated the 30 per cent allocation to education in the 2022 budget beyond the UNESCO benchmark of 26 per cent.

This, he said had reflected in the execution of massive education infrastructure projects as well as the ongoing recruitment of qualified secondary school teachers across the state.

Bello said that aside building school infrastructures, the government was committed to equipping the schools with well qualified teachers.

He explained that the teachers’ recruitment had reached the final stage after the aptitude tests and the oral interviews were concluded, saying the final list was waiting for final approvals.

He added that the state had enacted education law which empowered the ministry to sanction any person or group who tried to jeopardise government’s efforts in revamping education in the state.

He emphasised that the state government had shown sufficient commitment, hence the need for individuals and organisations to support government’s efforts through its School Adoption and Mentorship Programme.

He, therefore commended the donor, Ahmad Ododo for providing 11,000 Physics and Chemistry textbooks to public schools in the state, describing it ”as the biggest intervention by individual in the sector so far”.

He said after the distribution at Kogi Central, the textbooks would subsequently be distributed to schools in Kogi West and East senatorial districts.

He further disclosed that another Kogi citizen has promised to make provision for mathematics textbooks for the students.

He urged all the political appointees, well meaning individuals and organisations to embrace the state’s school adoption and mentorship programme.

He, however cautioned schools’ principals and teachers against commercialising the textbooks, saying it was not for sale but to be given to students free of charge.

He assured that the ministry had put mechanisms in place to monitor the distribution of the textbooks, warning that erring individuals would be sanctioned.

The governor advised the students to justify the donor’s effort by making judicious use of the textbooks.

Earlier, Dr Elizabeth Animoku, the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics (PRS), commended the commissioner for his achievement in education sector since he assumed office.

She said the textbooks had been thoroughly reviewed by the ministry through the Quality Assurance department, and were certified suitable for students’ use.

NAN reports that many dignitaries, royal fathers, school alumni and relevant education stakeholders were in attendance at the occasion.

In their goodwill messages, the Chairman of Okene Local Government, Mr Abdulrasak Mohammad; the Ohi of Adavi, HRH Alh. Muhammad Bello, commended the donor for the gesture and the state for the initiative.

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In a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Alh. Yakubu Dele Musa for the Hon. Commissioner stated that Parents who wish to have their Wards admitted into the School should visit the State Ministry of Education Science and Technology office in lokoja or the School premises in Adankolo to indicate their interest between now and 12th of September, 2022.

According to the statement, the GYB Models Science Secondary Schools which is spread across the three senatorial zones of the state are specifically established by the GYB administration to promote the philosophy of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics in the state.

Qualifications for entrance into the classes He noted are Common Entrance and Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) respectively.

The statement equally notified the public especially stakeholders in Education that the resumption date of Schools in the State earlier announced by the Ministry has not change, urging school administrators and parents to abide by the 25th September, 2022 resumption date.

He also informed school administrators that the result of the 2022 Common Entrance Examination has been released.

Musa Solomon
PRO

Speaking at the signing and unveiling ceremony in Lokoja, the state’s Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Wemi Jones, FCIB, said the textbooks would be used by all public and private schools across the state, except in tertiary institutions.

He described the book review which occurred every five years as a great privilege and divine ordination to have happened under his watch as the commissioner.

He thanked His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello, for founding him worth of occupying the seat, eulogising the Governor for making education his number one priority among other crucial needs of the state.

He noted that majority of the insecurity challenges currently facing the nation was essentially traceable to lack of quality education.

He said that the Governor was doing everything possible to address these challenges through education policy towards the direction of Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

He stressed that the STEM was thoroughly considered in arriving at the reviewed books to be used for the next five years in schools across the state.

The commissioner commended the committee members for giving their all towards ensuring the success of the exercise.

The commissioner noted that the signing and approval of the reviewed books for use in the state, did not mean that new books could not be accommodated within the period.

”When we review and find books that are worthy of our list, we will also add them. That is why we have a fully equipped and well staffed Quality Assurance Department with experts and technocrats handling the job,” he said.

He disclosed that the Governor had given approval for recruitment of more teachers, saying the process was ongoing and would be completed soon.

Earlier, the Director, Quality Assurance Department of the Ministry, Mr Pius Ikwuje, said the department was saddled with the responsibility of reviewing books to be used in the state every five years.

He said that the committee set up for the exercise, was inaugurated on Feb. 7, 2022, after the approval of the commissioner.

He added that the committee invited publishers, authors, writers to submit their books; as well as experts and qualified teachers at all levels within and outside the state who reviewed the books.

Ikwuje said the books were reviewed for pre-nursery, nursery, primary and secondary schools and the report was compiled and vetted by the committee for approval of the commissioner.

In her vote of thanks, Mrs Ruth Opaluwa, the Ministry’s Desk Officer for Curriculum and Review, thanked the Commissioner for his full support, and commended the committee members for the success of the exercise.

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Kogi State has won the Zonal finals of the 2022 Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) National Science Quiz Competition of Secondary Schools in the North Central zone.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that students from Kogi, Kwara, Benue, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau and the FCT Abuja, participated in the quiz competition on Monday at Baptist High School, Lokoja.

The National Coordinator, NNPC National Science Quiz Competition, Mr Tayo Sanni, who announced the results, said the students were tested in various science subjects, and Kogi emerged the winner.

According to him, Kogi emerged first position with 65 points, FCT came second with 60 points, while Plateau came third with 55 points.

”Benue emerged forth position with 50 points; Nasarawa, fifth with 45 points; while Niger and Kwara States, came sixth and seventh with 40 and 35 points respectively,” he said.

In his remarks, Mr. Garba Muhammad, the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, NNPC, congratulated the schools and their students for representing their states in the zonal contest.

Muhammad, who was represented by his Technical Assistant on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Mrs. Doris Lepsen, said the NNPC had made intervention in education and capacity development areas, as a fulcrum of its approach to Corporate Social Responsibility.

He emphasised the NNPC’s commitment to encouraging science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education (STEM education), which remain the focus of NNPC National Science Quiz Competition, has become stronger than ever.

”I invite all teachers, JETS coordinators, officials of the State Ministries of Education and parents here today to join the NNPC is this journey to create the Nigeria of our dreams by nurturing the mind and building the skill of the nation’s youth.

”We have in front of us today the best of the best. These students met their peers from all the 774 LGAs of Nigeria and battled it out to emerge as the top of their states.

”Today these 28 male and 9 female students will pass the final hurdle on the road to the NNPC Towers in our nation’s capital for the national finals and grand finale of the NNPC Quiz,” he said.

He thanked the State Government and the Ministry of Education, principals and teachers of the host school for the interest, commitment and support which have made the great competition successful since its inception.

Earlier, the Kogi Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Wemi Jones, FCIB, commended the NNPC for the choice of Kogi to host the 2022 edition of the annual competition.

He said that His Excellency, Gov. Yahaya Bello, had duly promoted and elevated the status of education in the state.

He stressed that Kogi now had Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH) and upgraded higher institutions to international standard, through the governor’s benevolent and doggedness.

According to him, as a visionary and pragmatic leader, His Excellency has made education his first and second priority with 30 per cent budgetary allocation to education.

Jones, who represented by the Ministry’s Director, Science and Tech., Mr Moses Ameh, noted that Kogi came first at the zonal level of the same competition held in 2019 in Minna, Niger State.

He appreciated the NNPC for the gesture and humanitarian service to the nation epecially the education industry.

NAN reports that, Ibrahim Abdultarreq, a 14 year old SS 2 student of Champion Group of Schools, Otite, Okehi Local Government Area, represented Kogi State at the competition. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
ASA/

The 100 percent success achieved at the recent accreditation exercise conducted by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) in Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, has been attributed to His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello, for his unflinching commitment to the development of education in the State.

Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr. Salisu Ogbo Usman, disclosed this on Tuesday 21st June, 2022, while presenting the results of the accreditation to the State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Honourable Wemi Jones.

The Rector stressed that His Excellency demonstrated exemplary commitment and relentless support which led to the huge success recorded.

Dr. Usman added that leadership and guide provided by the Honourable Commissioner of Education and the Governing Council led by Professor Yakubu Isa as well as quality working relationship enjoyed from the management, staff and students of the institution also contributed to the huge successes recorded.

The Rector who paid growing tributes to His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello for the opportunity granted him, also promised that more reforms will be introduced in the institution so as to place it among the comity of best Polytechnics in Nigeria.

The State Commissioner of Education, Science and Technology, Honourable Wemi Jones, commended Dr. Usman for his tremendous efforts in giving the institution a facelift in infrastructure and academic standards, and noted that the successful accreditation by the institution was the mother of all for the state owned tertiary institutions.

The Commissioner also thanked His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello for making the success possible.

Hon. Wemi Jones who described Dr. Usman as a blessing and a perfect fit to manage the affairs of the Polytechnic also promised that the Ministry would continue to provide necessary support to all parastatals and agencies of education in the State.

Meanwhile, the Governing Council of Kogi State Polytechnic has congratulated the Rector, Dr. Salisu Ogbo Usman on the full successes recorded at the Accreditation.

At its 66th meeting held on Friday 16th June, 2022, Council commended Dr. Usman and his management team for the successful exercise which it described as another laudable effort under his leadership.

Council also lauded the Polytechnic Management for the peace, security, tremendous infrastructure and academic development on campus, just as he called for renewed collective efforts to achieve more.

Chairman of the Governing Council, Professor Yakubu Isa, noted that the Rector’s prudence in the management of scarce resources, transparency, selfless and meritorious service to the Polytechnic has made the Council’s task easy, just as he directed that a special award and commendation letter be presented to Dr. Usman.

Professor Isa also commended Council Members for their commitment, dedication and contribution to the rapid development experienced at the institution which has further rubbed on the State.

Uredo Omale
Head, Public Relations and Protocol Unit.
Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja.

The Kogi State Government has advised the principals of secondary schools and supervisors against condoning any act of examination misconducts during the upcoming West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in the state

The state’s Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Wemi Jones, FCIB, gave the advice at this year’s WAEC Briefings of Principals, Exam Officers and Supervisors in Lokoja on Monday.

The Commissioner congratulated the participants at the meeting for the improved examination activities in the state since he assumed office.

He noted that Kogi used to be rated high in examination misconducts over the years, but has improved tremendously over the past two years.

‘It is with utmost delight and gratitude to inform you that we have improved tremendously for the past two years,” he said.

Jones explained that schools were made to write an undertaken in respect to examination misconducts, saying the principals complied and that had yielded great results.

According to him, last year, only one school was derecognised and 25 schools warned. This achievement was a product of the joint efforts between the Ministry of Education and Principals of our noble schools.

”I am standing before you in my capacity as the Hon. Commissioner to assure you, and to receive promise from you that this year’s examination will witness excellent performance, meaning that Kogi State will not hear the language vof derecognition and being seriously warned again,” he said

He, therefore charged the principals to always be available in their respective schools during any paper to avoid compromise, and urged supervisors to take their work very seriously in order not to enter the black book of WAEC and the ministry.

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The Kogi State College of Education, Ankpa, and College of Education (Technical) Kabba, have both received full accreditation of all their academic programmes by the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE),

This was disclosed when the Provosts of the two Colleges, officially presented their accreditation letters to the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon Wemi Jones, FCIB, in his office on Thursday in Lokoja.

Speaking, Dr Mohammed Kabiru Ibrahim, the Provost, College of Education, Ankpa, said all the 29 academic programmes presented by the school got full accreditation.

According to him, by this development, the College of Education, Ankpa, now has all of its programmes accredited.

Ibrahim explained that the college was recently visited by an accreditation team from the NCCE, who came to access the institution and its academic programmes.

He added that the result of the accreditation came out recently and all the 29 academic programmes as well as the physical infrastructure were fully accredited.

”We felt it was wise to bring the result to the Commissioner, who is our boss in charge of our immediate constituency, and has fully supported us in all the processes.

”So, we are here basically to share the good news with him in terms of our success in just concluded accreditation exercise,” he said.

He commended the Governor who is a visitor to the college for his passion and love for education, and for creating the enabling environment, funding, recruitment of the academic staff, which set the stage for the accreditation process.

On her part, Dr (Mrs) Victoria Jagboro, Provost, College of Education (Technical), Kabba, said all the 14 academic programmes presented by the school got full accreditation.

”We are here to really appreciate the Hon. Commissioner for standing with us in a journey that is almost one year, and to formerly present the result of the accreditation to him.

”We entered in for 14 programmes and all of them were accredited, and that is the first time all the programmes will be accredited in the college,” she said.

Jagboro added that the significance of the feat was that ”the college is authentic, credible, and would attract more students’ enrollment into the school,.

In his response, the Commissioner commended the two provosts, the management and staff of their schools, for their commitment and dedication to making it a reality.

”When God sends you on an assignment, he backs you up with energetic, articulate, brilliant and intelligent people.

”I thank God Almighty for His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello, who gave me this job and also decided to back me up with people who never take no for an answer”, Jones said.

He said he felt so fulfilled that the remarkable feat happened under his watch as the education commissioner, saying, ”God is with us in Kogi State who has made it to come into reality”.

He added that all the programmes in Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU) had also been accredited as well as the Kogi State Polytechnic.

The Commissioner stressed that he felt so honoured for bringing the letters to his office, and for onward presentation to His Excellency, who had given all the necessary support.

He, however noted that the accreditation was a call for more work, saying the State Government was working hard to addressing the issues of proliferation of substandard colleges of education in the state especially in Ankpa.

He added: ”this is actually a call to service and we have to justify to use the opportunity to get more students for enrollment.

”We thank God for having these results and we are not going to take it for granted”.

He commended the Governor for devoting everything to the development of education in the state, which he had demonstrated by 30 per cent budgetary allocation to education.

End