In a statement released on Thursday in Lokoja, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State emphasized the need for enhanced funding in education to accelerate human capital development in Nigeria.
According to the statement issued by his special adviser on media, Ismaila Isah, Governor Ododo made this assertion during a courtesy visit to the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), Architect Sonny Echono, at the TETFUND headquarters in Abuja.
Expressing gratitude for TETFUND’s intervention in tertiary institutions in Kogi State, Governor Ododo urged the Executive Secretary to support the state in accessing increased funding for impactful projects in its tertiary educational institutions.
Ododo said, “I commend TETFUND for the impact in the development of tertiary education in Kogi State, particularly the speedy development of our brand new Kogi State University, Kabba, which recently held its maiden matriculation of its first set of over 1000 students and has fully commenced academic activities.
“I must say that TETFUND has made a remarkable impact in supporting higher institutions in Kogi State such as the Prince Abubakar Audu University Ayingba, Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara, Kogi State Polytechnic Lokoja, College of Education Ankpa, College of Education (Technical) Kabba, but we will continue to seek your support for intervention in developing critical infrastructure in our tertiary educational institutions to help in advancing our agenda for accelerated human capital development in the state.”
The governor, who applauded the leadership of TETFUND for the support received by higher educational institutions in Kogi State, noted that the state government is in need of more interventions for its tertiary educational institutions, especially under the Special High Impact Intervention Fund by the organization.
Ododo, who restated his administration’s agenda for human capital development in the state, stressed that education remains the most important catalyst for the development of any society and assured that his administration will promote key priority areas in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) in all the higher institutions in the state to ensure that no child of school age is left behind in the state.
In his welcome address, the Executive Secretary of TETFUND, Architect Sonny Echono, commended Ododo for his servant leadership approach to governance describing the governor as a hands-on leader who has put himself forward in the service of the people of the state.
“TETFUND will continue to support Kogi State through its interventions in tertiary education to enhance the governor’s vision of accelerated human capital development in the state,” he said.
Ododo was accompanied on the visit to TETFUND by the state commissioner for education, Wemi Jones, and the vice chancellor of Kogi State University, Kabba, Professor KIT Eniola.
