By Dada Ahmed in Lokoja
Kogi State Government,through the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, has formally handed over projects’ work at the newly established Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara to contractors for rehabilitation, renovation and supply of materials at new site for the instruction.
The Reporters reports that government in that direction is in preparation for the commencement of academic activities at the institution before the end February 2021.
The Commissioner in charge of the ministry,Mr Wemi Jones, while handing over the projects to Contractors on Friday in Osara, expressed joy and thanked God Almighty God for being part of the history making event.
He appreciated Governor Yahaya Bello for his vision and leadership in initiating the monumental idea of establishing the CUSTECH.
Ademu Seidu, the Public Relations Officer for the ministry, in a statement, qouted the Commissioner as having impressed delight over the level of work done at the university site within the few days of commencing the project.
He thanked the consultant for his resilience and hard work in ensuring that the dream and vision of the governor was being materialised within the shortest time possible.
Jones further congratulated the contractors for being among the few selected ones, saying that they got the job based on their track records and antecedents.
He appealed to the contractors to ensure that the projects were completed and delivered within the specified time, saying that academic activities at the new university would commence on the camp before the end of February 2021.
He, however emphasised that government would not comprise on the job standard as specified in their award letters, saying that everything stated in the letter must be strictly adhered to.
”Our governor believes so much in quality and that is exactly what we want you to deliver to us.
”We are going to be here to give you all the support you will require to deliver on time, and to give us quality,” Jones said.
Earlier, the Director of Project of the Ministry, Mr Moses Ameh, commended the consultant and the contractors for the ongoing work at the site, noting that they were selected through due process.
Also speaking, the Project Consultant, Builder Islameen Etudaiye, said the mandate was to complete the projects in less than one month, assuring that ”we have ensured that all contractors are working within the timeline and duration.
”Hopefully, we should be able to complete the project within the time frame,” Etudaiye said.
The consultant added that there had been no challenge of any kind, saying that was why the state government ensured that reputable contractors were selected to handle the projects.
One of the Contractors, Mr Musa Zakari, who spoke on behalf of other contractors, assured the Commissioner that quality work would be done according to the standard specifications and delivered within the time frame.
Zakari, who is the CEO of Dynamic Centre Limited, noted that the contractors had been working very hard to complete all the projects within the cycle of time given.
”We have been strictly adhering to all the specifications given and we promise to do our best and work hard, as much as possible, to deliver our best, impress the consultant and please the government,” he promised.
Present at the handing over ceremony was the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Pastor Emmanuel Idenyi and all the contractors.
Our correspondent reports that Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), endorsed by the authorities of National Universities Commission (NUC), about a month ago, is the first of its kind in Kogi Central Senatorial district.
The Reporters recalls that CUSTECH is the second state-owned University in the state since the creation of the Kogi on August 27,1991.
It came after the Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba in the East Senatorial district,named after the first democratically elected governor of the state, Prince Abubakar Audu of the blessed memory.
