Concerned stakeholders and residents of the Kogi Central senatorial district have called on Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo to prioritize the rehabilitation and modernization of two historic educational institutions: Okene Secondary School (OSS) and Okene Teachers College (OTC). The appeal was made in a communiqué issued at the conclusion of a meeting in Okene.
Call for Urgent Intervention
The stakeholders, including traditional rulers, community leaders, and alumni representatives, commended Governor Ododo’s early efforts in governance, particularly his commitment to improving education across the state.
However, they expressed deep concern over the current state of OSS and OTC, noting that decades of neglect have left both schools in a deplorable condition. “These two institutions… stand among the earliest and most prestigious educational establishments in Kogi State,” the communiqué stated.
“They have produced exceptional scholars, professionals, and public servants… However, their current state is deeply concerning. Classrooms, staff quarters, hostels, and sports facilities are in a deplorable condition due to decades of neglect.”
The communiqué, signed by Comrade AbdulLateef Obaro, Chairman of the School-Based Management Committee for OSS, emphasized that while previous administrations made some interventions, the current level of decay demands a comprehensive and urgent response.
Specific Appeals to the Governor
The stakeholders united in their resolve to restore the schools’ lost glory. They appealed to Governor Ododo to undertake an on-the-spot visit to OSS and OTC to personally assess the facilities. They also urged him to prioritize the rehabilitation and modernization of the institutions within his first term.
To achieve this, the group proposed the establishment of a special intervention fund or a strategic public-private partnership to restore OSS—with its 32 classrooms, 23 staff quarters, four hostels, and two football pitches—into a “model school befitting its historic prestige.”
“We humbly submit that no tertiary education system can thrive without a strong foundation in primary and secondary education,” the communiqué concluded, highlighting the role of a revitalized OSS and OTC in producing future leaders for the state.
The stakeholders expressed confidence that under Governor Ododo’s leadership, the schools “will once again become symbols of excellence in Kogi State’s educational landscape.”
