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.

End

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.

End

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.

End

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 Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, on Tuesday organised a send-off session for her outgone Permanent Secretary, Pastor Emmanuel Idenyi and two Directors who recently retired from the Ministry.

It was a gathering demonstrative of praises and goodwill messages for the three retirees as they got affectionate valedictory from their colleagues from the Ministry of Education as well as other MDAs and family members.

The two retired Directors are Pastor Isaiah Abah, Director, Internal Audit and Alhaji Nafiu Dare Suleiman, a Director in Quality Assurance Department of the Ministry.

Speaking at event, the Ministry’s Commissioner, Hon. Wemi Jones, FCIB, commended the three celebrants for their hard work and commitment towards the development of education sector in the state while in active service.

The commissioner specifically eulogised the outgone Permanent Secretary, Pastor Emmanuel Idenyi, for being a very dependable and reliable ally with a high sense of humility and respect.

Jones described the Permanent Secretary as a responsible, dedicated, punctual and loyal civil servant, while commending the management and staff of the Ministry for their support and commitments to duty.

He stressed that the cordial working relationship and harmonious working environment in the Ministry coupled with the necessary support provided by the state government, brought about the unprecedented transformational development witnessed in the state’s education sector under his watch.

He appreciated His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello, for creating an enabling environment and giving all the needed support and encouragement to carry out the Ministry’s functions without any form of interference.

He specially praised the governor for giving education sector the topmost priority and attention especially the 30 per cent allocation to education sector in the 2022 annual State budget

He highlighted the achievements of the Ministry within the period of his service to include a fully enacted State Education Law, improvement in WAEC ranking from 28th to 14th, drastic reduction in examination malpractices to almost zero level, and successful establishment of Education Strategic Plans.

Other achievements include: approval for recruitment of 3900 secondary school teachers, facelift of the Ministry, partial automation of internal examination registration process, among others.

He also commended the two retiring Directors for giving their best towards the development of education in the state, while assuring them of open doors for continual consultation even after retirement.

The commissioner congratulated the celebrants for their years of meritorious and selfless services, and prayed God to continue to guide them in all their future endeavours.

He however challenged the new Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Alhaji Yakubu Dele Musa, to step into the big shoes his predecessor left behind, and ensure that he surpassed his feats.

The Ministry presented gifts to the retirees in appreciation of their contributions towards the development of education in the state.

In their separate responses, the new senior citizens expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the Commissioner and the entire management and staff of the Ministry for the honour bestowed on them.

Pastor Idenyi thanked the Commissioner for the trust he reposed in him and the harmonious working relationship he enjoyed under his leadership, describing the Commissioner as a great leader.

Idenyi extended his appreciation to the Governor for the opportunity given to him to serve as a Permanent Secretary especially in the education sector.

He thanked the management and staff of the Ministry for their unalloyed support and commitments to duty which resulted into the tremendous achievements recorded under his tenure as the education Permanent Secretary.

The two retired Directors; Abah and Suleiman, in turn thanked the Commissioner, the management and staff of the Ministry for their cooperation while in service and the honour done them at retirement.

Dignitaries at the occasion were: the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Idris Musa; the Rector, Kogi State Polytechnic, Dr. Salisu Ogbo Usman; and the Chairman, Caretaker Committee of Permanent Secretaries Forum, Alhaji Salifu Ameh.

Others include: the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Pastor Ezekiel Shaibu; Mr. Bunmi, a Director at KGIRS; newly retired Permanent Secretaries: Alh. Okeme Jubril, Mr. Sylvanus Akpama, and Mall. Jimoh Mohammed; as well as the new Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Alhaji Yakubu Dele Musa.

End

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.

End

A Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) in education sector in Kogi State, has commenced the donation of thousands of note books and school bags to the State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, to be distributed to schools across the state.

Speaking while taken the delivery of the materials in his office in Lokoja on Friday, the Commissioner of the Ministry, Hon. Wemi Jones, FCIB, thanked the donor, who preferred to remain anonymous, for heeding the call of the State Government to boosting education sector in the state.

Jones noted that the School Adoption And Mentorship Programme, is achieving a tremendous success across the state, while appreciating His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello, for his commitment to revamping education sector in the state.

According to him, the school adoption and mentorship programme is an initiative of the Kogi State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, which has gone through all levels of approval including that of the State Executive Council (SEC).

Jones noted that the intention was to get every major stakeholder in Kogi State to give back to the educational system in the state, which include: public office holders at Federal State and Local Government levels.

Others are: traditional rulers, religious leaders, entrepreneurs, senior civil servants, community based leaders, union leaders, old students associations, civil society organisations and nongovernmental organizations, among others.

”The intention is for all the targeted stakeholders to go back to schools especially secondary schools of their choice to teach students and also give them motivational speeches, their true life stories and stories of historical heroes, among others.

He stressed that it would also see how they could intervene in addressing one issue or the other in the school, saying, ”it is difficult to find anybody who is somebody today that has not passed through one form of educational system or the other.

”We need to change the psyche of these children, address the society and do things that will change the wrong their mentality.

”Morality is at its lowest ebb, but the truth is that when a successful adult outside the teachers and parents, talk to these children, the tendency that they may want to listen is there.

”We want our leaders, stakeholders to come and share their past, stories and experiences with these children,” he reiterated.

Jones added that the state government also want to reduce the incidence of young school leavers being converted to thugs and cultists, saying this could be achieved by talking to the children continuously.

”After the launch of the program, we reach out to a good number of people through letters, and I am glad that the response has been tremendous.

”When we conceived this program, I never imagined we are going to achieve this level of positive feedback.

”As I speak with you, somebody who does not want his name to be mentioned has committed himself to the production of note books and school bags in tens of thousands, and God’s willing as soon as school resume for the third term, we are going to commence the distribution of the materials as specified by the donor,” Jones said.

He added that some old student associations have also contacted him on their intention to go back to their alma mata to do lots of intervention projects to complement government’s efforts in infrastructural development.

He emphasised that the Government of Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has committed huge some of money towards the renovations and revamping of the schools’ structures across the 21 local government areas of the state.

”I have also got various calls and comments from people coming forth to say they would want to be part of it.

”I thanked the various stakeholders in Kogi State for showing so much interest in the project, because anybody that is showing interest in education, definitely, he is passionate about the future of our dear state.

”I can tell you that among all the programmes I have executed as Commissioner which have been fully supported by His Excellency, this is the program that has received the widest commendation and patronage,” he said.

The Commissioner thanked His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello, for his strong support and commitment to revamping and developing education in the state.

He further called on all stakeholders to ensure full participation in the programme as well as contributing their own quota in an attempt to revamping and developing education in the state for future sake.

”This is a journey that we are going to undergo together, and we expect that even subsequent governments would put it into our system in Kogi State”, he said

End

The Permanent Secretary, Kogi State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Pastor Emmanuel Idenyi, has urged parents to be a role model to their children and instil leadership traits into them.

Idenyi gave the charge in his paper presentation, titled: ”Preparing Children For Quality Leadership”, which he delivered recently at the ”2021 Graduation, Speech and Prize-Giving Day”, of the Michael Omonogun Memorial Nursery/Primary School, Lokoja.

Idenyi described leadership ”as an art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants it done, adding that to be a visionary is to be a leader”.

The permanent secretary noted that the task of preparing children for leadership, remained the responsibility of both parents and teachers, stressing that the onus lies on the parents for obvious reasons.

According to him, leadership tends to indicate the innate ability of a child to gather different people and help everyone work together towards a singular goal.

”Every kid has the potentials to be a leader in some areas of his/her life. Many successful leaders today learned their leadership skills from the influence of Mentors.

”As parents, we have the opportunities everyday to be a role model to our children and instil leadership traits in them”, Idenyi said.

He further highlighted the necessary ingredients needed to cultivating leadership skills in children, to include: confidence and ability to believe in yourself, social/communication skills, be example, putting a team together, and be a family.

Others are: to allow children make decisions, carrying out domestic chores to develop humility, develop problem-solving skills in the child, get the child a mentor, reward optimism, similarity and difference, and exposing children to reading culture.

He further added that children should be nurtured with entrepreneurial spirit, be encouraged to blaze their own trail, surround them with leaders, good listenship, establish a strong financial practices, among others.

The permanent secretary noted that all parents want their kids to be successful and viewed them as courageous leaders, willing to take on any challenge.

”In as much as this is so, instilling leadership traits in children takes a lot of patience and practice”, Idenyi said.

The permanent secretary lauded His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello for his favourable disposition torwards education sector especially the establishment of CUSTECH Osara, and for accented the Kogi Education Law.

He further commended the governor for approving 20 per cent of the annual State budget to education, the prompt release of funds for all internal examinations and other notable feats, recorded by the present Government in the State.

Idenyi also eulogised the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Wemi Jones, for his innovative ideas, approaches and actions that had led to the speedy transformation of education in the state.

The pastor prayed God to bless the children with spirit of excellence to take them to higher heights, and be the pride to their parents, useful to their environment, communities and the society at large.

End