By: Musa Mohammed, Lokoja 

On the 23rd of June, 2023, the Kogi state Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello signed into law the bill establishing the Kogi state University, KSU, Kabba.

While assenting to the bill, the Governor reiterated that the University in Kogi West was in honour of the vision of the founding fathers of the Senatorial District which his administration had made a reality.

One of the aims put forward for the establishment according to the Governor also was to address the challenge of getting admission into higher institutions by students of Kogi extraction.

In responding to questions on funding as a challenge as KSU is the 3rd State University in the Kogi, Alhaji Bello in his usual demonstration of political will, emphatically stated that the University would take off before the end of his administration.

And true to his promise and with lightening speed, Governor Bello immediately constituted different committees that would come up with a good location as at then, compile requirements needed including the university law, university brief and masterplan for approval and recognition of KSU, Kabba by National Universities Commission, NUC which was accomplished within few weeks of the pronouncement.

Only recently, the State government commenced recruitment process for management and staff of the institution.

Just a few days ago too, the sum of one billion naira was said to have been released for commencement of some major projects at the university site.

These include the major road leading to the school, construction of an adjoining bridge, and so on.

While addressing Executives of the Kabba Development Union, KDU who had come to appreciate him at the Government House in Lokoja recently, the Governor announced that measures have been put in place to commence academic activities in the institution as soon as possible as well as ensure its sustainabile management.

The speed and commitment demonstrated in the realization of Kogi State University, KSU, Kabba is reminiscent of the dedication and zeal exhibited in the establishment of the Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara.

This goes to further cement the administration’s prioritization of education among the 5 thematic areas of development laid out by the government.

There is no doubt that Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello had demonstrated the political will to make impactful decisions and initiated transformational projects that have put Kogi on the front burner in different sectors of the state economy including education and health.

The establishment of KSU, Kabba puts Kogi among very few across Nigeria and first in the North Central Zone with 3 state owned universities and equitably located in each of the 3 senatorial districts of the state.

Apart from the increased opportunity for enrollment by Kogi State citizens just as witnessed in CUSTECH, Osara, KSU, Kabba would also be a choice university when completed for students from other states in the North Central and South West states.

The establishment of the university could not have been for personal or political gains as acknowledged by the governor at several fora.

But it goes without exaggeration that this single act of gifting Okunland a university has scored a marvelous political goal that political commentators would be kept busy analysing for a long time.

The people of Okunland are lovers of quality education and are generally in tune with academic development.

So, aside the numerous benefits that come with having a revered academic institution in Okunland, an unprecedented transformation is no doubt in the offing for commercial activities in Kabba township particularly and the district in general.

Like the gigantic Omi rice mill, modern health facility at Isanlu and model Science secondary school in Okebukun, among other numerous life changing projects scattered across Kogi west, KSU Kabba has obviously won the admiration of the people both at home and in the diaspora as well as tremendous support for the incumbent governor.

There is no gainsaying therefore that this massive support would be extended to and enjoyed by Governor Yahaya Bello’s All Progressives Congress, APC and its governorship candidate in the forthcoming November, election.

The APC led administration has by this move which is a step in the right direction won the heart of the people of Okun land and this gesture no doubt will be reciprocated come November 11th.

This is why there have been massive defection of supporters from other political parties into the APC.

This is despite the fact that the three major contenders of Action Alliance, AA, African Democratic Congress, ADC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP are from the Okun speaking area.

Prospects are therefore high and the socio-economic potentials are enormous for both the people of Okunland and the state as a whole.

It will therefore not be out of place that with this age-long dream fulfilled by the government of Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello, the majority of the Okun people would have no hard time making their decisions come November 11.

As the popular saying goes, one good turn deserves another.