(Lokoja)
The Governor of Kogi state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has approved the upgrade of College of Agricultural, Ochaja in Dekina Local Government Area, to diploma awarding institution in agricultural areas.
The governor disclosed this in Lokoja, when he inaugurated a 7-man Inter Ministerisl Steering Committee on the implementation for the commencement of Diploma Programmes at College.
The State’s Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Wemi Jones, who performed the inauguration on behalf of the governor, urged the committee to immediately hit the ground running and submit their report within six weeks.
The governor recalled that on June 2, 2020, he approved the commencement of academic programmes leading to the award of National Diploma in various agricultural areas at the College of Agriculture, Ochaja.
He noted that the approval could not take-off because of the COVID-19 restrictions and other attendant issues.
”Today, we are inaugurating the Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee to midwife the commencement of lectures and other academic activities in agricultural areas at the college for the benefit of the people,”he said.
Bello said the Terms of Reference (ToR) of the Committee were: to ascertain the level of the present infrastructure in the institution, non-academic staff, need for pooling staff from the Ministry of Agriculture and other related Ministries.
Other terms are: admission of prospective students, sale of admission forms, the status of laws establishing the upgrade of the institution and other related issues.
Bello, who expressed the desire to leaving legacy projects in all parts of the state,urged the committee members not to betray the confidence reposed in them by such an important assignment.
“If you do this very well,the College of Agriculture, Ochaja, will be one of those legacy projects I will be leaving behind.
”I count it as a rare privilege and honour for all of us to be part of this dream.
“The people of Ochaja are anticipating the commencement of academic activities at this institution.
”So, this is a task that must be done very well, and you have just six weeks to submit your report,”, the governor stressed.
Responding, the Committee Chairman who doubles as the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Pastor Emmanuel Idenyi, thanked God that the inauguration and implementation case under the present administration in the state.
Idenyi assured the governor that the work would be effectively carried out and delivered within the time frame.
Idenyi, who appreciated and congratulated the governor for his recent victory at the Supreme Court, pledged the loyalty of the members “at all times.”
The Principal of the College, Mr Tijani Michael, recalled that the college was established in 1961 as Agricultural Institute, and later converted to Agricultural Training Centre in 1964, adding that it had been running certificate courses since then.
Michael expressed gratitude to the governor for approving the upgrade of the College and as thanked the commissioner for his effort.
The Reporters,an online publication, reports the the committee members were drawn from ministries of Agriculture; and Education, Science & Technology, while Mrs Kate Fiki, the Director Admin and Finance (DAF) of the agriculture ministry the Secretary.
Other members are: Mrs Hannah Odiyo, Permanent Secretary, Mr Ichiaka Okolo, Director, Agricultural Services; Mrs Clara Bolu, Director, Tertiary and Continuous Education; Mr Dipo Aiyenibe, Director, Science and Technology; and Mr Tijani Michael, the principal of the College.
