By Correspondent in Lokoja
The new Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara in Kogi says it has commenced registeration of students offered admission to read various courses at the institution, as one of the steps toward actual commencement of its academic activities.
The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Salawu Sadiku, disclosed this after the Kogi State Government formally handed over the newly constructed and renovated facilities to the university’s management in Osara on Monday.
The Vice Chancellor commended the Governor of the state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, and the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr. Wemi Jones, for their commitment to the realisation of establishing the university.
He noted with delight that most of the facilities had been completed and handed over to the institution while some were at advanced stage.
According to him,the university authorities will set ball rolling by mapping out strategies to complete the remaining jobs or to add value to whatsoever given to the institution, in line with directive of the governor.
Sadiku, who assured that the management would continue to make life easy for the pioneer students, however, appealed to them to learn to cope with some of the present challenges at the campus.
He commended the Ministry of Education for support, saying, “we want to put on record that the university is really proud of the state Ministry of Education as its parent ministry.”
Sadiku said: “We are of course answerable to you, so you can always draw our attention to whatever actions or inactions that you may think necessary to ask us to review.
“We will also not hesitate to draw your attention to our programmes, from time to time, with a view to receiving that matured advice and guidance from you.”
The Commissioner,Mr Wemi Jones,who expressed joy for the handing over of the facilities and in executing and implementing the directive of the governor at the university, also commended him for his vision and leadership traits resulting in the the monumental idea that made the establishment of the institution a reality.
Jones, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Pastor Emmanuel Idenyi, said the governor was highly interested in the immediate commencement of activities at the university.
“We are happy that the dream of His Excellency, that started in December last year, has been realised in the open today.
“I am happy because it is glaring that the VC himself and other management and members of staff of the university are zealous to commence activities.
“As we went round, we are also happy that we saw that some students are already coming in,” he said.
He assured the VC of the ministry’s continued partnership and good working relationship with the university.
“We are happy and assure you that we are going to work closely with you and support you, because the governor have so much confidence in your capability to do this work,” he said.
One of the students, Mohammed Adeiza, expressed joy being one of the pioneers of the university and commended the governor for the gesture.
The facilities handed over include: Administrative block, blocks of classrooms, Auditorium, Library, Multipurpose and workshop Laboratories.
Others are: ICT centre, School Clinic and Canteen blocks, Boys and Girls Hostel blocks, academic blocks, among others.
