The Kogi State Government has confirmed that it has spent over ₦20 billion on the state-owned Kogi State University (KSU) in the two years since its establishment. This information was revealed by the state’s Commissioner for Education, Wemi Jones, during a keynote address at the Professor Mathew Ajibero Memorial Lecture, delivered by Professor Lamidi Kehinde of Kogi State University in Kabba.
According to Jones, a significant portion of the expenditure, totaling ₦6 billion, was allocated to administrative blocks, lecture theatres, and classrooms. An additional ₦8 billion has been invested in the construction of the Senate building, Faculty of Science, and male and female hostels on the university campus.
The Commissioner emphasized the positive impact of the university on the Gbeleko host community, highlighting the economic opportunities it has brought to the area. He expressed confidence that the late Professor Ajibero, in whose community the university is located, would have appreciated the development facilitated by the state government through the establishment of Kogi State University, Kabba.
Furthermore, Jones affirmed the state government’s unwavering commitment to the advancement of technical education, recognizing the significant potential this sector holds for the state’s growth and development.
Addressing the audience, guest lecturer Professor Lamidi Kehinde urged the state government to demonstrate the necessary political will to allocate increased funds to vocational education. He emphasized the importance of vocational training as the key to future opportunities for the country’s youth, advocating for a shift away from traditional white-collar job pursuits.
