By Correspondent in Lokoja.
The 10th Governing Council of Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, held its inaugural meeting on Thursday, August 28, 2025, with firm assurances to consolidate academic excellence, innovation, research visibility, accountability, and improved welfare for staff and students.
The meeting, which doubled as the 72nd Regular Council Meeting, took place at the Council Chambers of the Polytechnic and was presided over by the Chairman, Barrister Sani Shaibu according to Uredo Omale,Director,
Public Relations and Protocol of the Polytechnic in a statement she signed and copied The Reporters in Lokoja on Friday.
In his inaugural address, Barr. Shaibu expressed profound gratitude to the Governor of Kogi State and Visitor to the Polytechnic,Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, for the confidence reposed in him and other Council members.
He described the appointment as a privilege and honour, pledging to justify the trust through dedicated service and purposeful leadership.
He emphasized that Kogi State Polytechnic remains a beacon of technical education and manpower development in Kogi State and Nigeria at large.
The Chairman listed the Council’s priorities, including: Promoting academic excellence through modern curricula;Improving staff and students’ welfare; upgrading laboratories, ICT facilities, and lecture halls;and strengthening partnerships with industries and professional bodies
Others,he added,are;entrenching accountability and good governance;ensuring a cult-free and crime-free campus through enhanced security.
He commended the Polytechnic’s management, particularly for its recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal University Lokoja ,to commence undergraduate and top-up programmes, assuring the Governor of the Council’s alignment with the state’s vision for education, youth empowerment, and economic development.
In his remarks, the Rector, Prof.Salisu Ogbo Usman, congratulated the Chairman and members of the Governing Council on their appointments, describing their emergence as timely and resourceful.
He noted that their wealth of experience would further strengthen the growth and visibility of the institution.
Prof. Usman recalled that since assuming office in 2020, his administration had tackled challenges such as infrastructural deficits, cultism, indiscipline, ICT shortcomings, and strained relationships with funding agencies.
He highlighted modest achievements made under his leadership, which the Council duly commended.
The Rector also appreciated the support of the immediate past Governor, Alhaji (Dr.) Yahaya Bello, and the incumbent Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, for their non-interference in the Polytechnic’s internal administration,describing it as the secret behind the institution’s modest strides.
He further extended gratitude to the outgoing 9th Governing Council, regulatory agencies, and development partners for their contributions.
Prof. Usman expressed optimism that under the new Council, the Polytechnic’s “Repair, Reform, and Restore” agenda would consolidate and expand.
Both the Chairman and the Rector appealed to staff, students, alumni, and stakeholders to support the Council in building a legacy of excellence.
They expressed confidence that with unity, dedication, and divine guidance, the Polytechnic would attain greater heights.
The Governing Council comprises 19 members, including Principal Officers of the Polytechnic, external and internal members, ministry representatives, and a representative of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), with Barrister Sani Shaibu serving as Chairman.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
