CHAPTER TWO

EDUCATION

When Alhaji Ibrahim Idris was traversing the length and breadth of Kogi State prior to his election into office in 2003, he had told the people of the State that one of the areas of worry to him which cried for urgent attention, was the education sector which received little or no attention from the previous administrations.

It is to be noted that the situation in the Eastern Senatorial District of the State was pathetic as more than 80% of the primary schools had no classroom for the use of the pupils who received their lessons under trees and during the rains stayed at home because of lack of shelter.

The situation in the Western and Central Senatorial Districts were slightly better.  All the schools were understaffed and the few teachers in the primary and secondary schools were owed several months of unpaid salaries and allowances.  Leave bonuses were not paid to them.  The situation was pathetic and the zeal expected of them in the discharge of their duties was near absent.

Shortly after being sworn in as the Executive Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris embarked on the construction of units of primary schools across the State.  One unique future of the exercise was that all Local Government Areas were treated on equal basis irrespective of their sizes and population.  As at date, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris led administration had constructed and furnished over 800 number of four (4) classroom blocks in all the 21 Local Government Areas of the State.

Alhaji Ibrahim Idris also gave a matching order to  SUBEB to set in motion the process of recruiting competent teachers for the schools.  It is heart warming that as at date all the primary schools in the State are well furnished and equipped to provide a conductive environment for both teachers and pupils.  All outstanding salaries, allowances and leave bonuses of the primary school teachers have been paid by the administration of Alhaji Ibrahim Idris.

In similar vein Alhaji Ibrahim Idris has paid sufficient attention to secondary schools. Competent teachers have been engaged with emphasis on science subjects.  Twenty-one (21) numbers Science Secondary Schools have been established all over the State and all outstanding salaries and allowances of secondary school teachers paid by this administration.  Science equipments were provided for designated colleges.

Alhaji Ibrahim Idris has completely turned around the fortunes of the tertiary institutions in the State.  The first step was to pay the lecturers their appropriate salaries which resulted in the implementation of 22% salary increase recommended by the Federal Government.  Sufficient funds were provided to the institutions to prosecute the accreditation exercise.  It is heartwarming to know that all courses at the Kogi State University, College of Education and Kogi State Polytechnic have been accredited.

The Kogi State Polytechnic, College of Education Ankpa and the Kogi State University were not properly positioned for service delivery.  The Governor swung into action and provided the tertiary institutions with electricity transformers, generating sets and improved the water system to provide a conducive environment for the students to learn.  Tertiary institutions in Kogi State can now be properly referred to as citadel of leaving.  The immediate past administration took a loan of 2 Billion Naira from the then Continental Bank to improve service at the Kogi State University.  Hotels were to be provided, roads constructed and staff quarters built.

The 2 billion Naira loan facility was repaid by this administration despite the fact that no commensurate services were rendered.  There is still a debt burden of about one billion Naira as a result of accumulated interest charges on the loan facility.

The services at the University Library was comparable to what obtains in Colleges and the facilities at the departments fell far short of what should be in a University of the status of Kogi State University.  Student hostel were inadequate and the environment of the University was not conducive for learning.

Midway into the life of the administration, Professor Francis Idachaba a renowned international scholar was persuaded by His Excellency the Executive Governor of  the State to take over the mantle of leadership of the University.  The Vice-Chancellor of the University has reshaped the University in all ramifications.

Undaunted by the debt portfolio of the University, the Administration of Alhaji Ibrahim Idris took positive steps to reposition the institution to meet the yearnings of the people of the State.

In three years of the life of this administration, the hitherto glorified college now pride itself as one of the best Universities in Nigeria.

All the courses in the University have now been accredited by the National University Commission after the initial denial of accreditation of 21 out of the 29 courses presented to the Commission for accreditation.

Electricity supply in the University Campus has been boosted by the installation of transformers and supply of 500 KV generator.  Water supply has been enhanced by the provision of motorized boreholes.  The library has been equipped with state of the earth equipment and books and all abandoned projects completed

His Excellency Alhaji Ibrahim Idris has provided the University and Law faculties with Buses and sufficient equipment in all its departments.  All the abandoned projects of the University have been paid for by Government and completed by the contractors.  The Government has committed about N1.5 billion to the University since its birth in May, 2003.