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By Dada Ahmed in lokoja
The Kogi State Government has restated its commitment to enhance adequate security of lives and property in various campuses of tertiary institutions across the state.
The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr Wemi Jones, gave the assurance at a sensitisation meeting with heads of State Tertiary Institutions, and officials of Kogi State Security Trust Fund (KSSTF), on Thursday in Lokoja.
The commissioner reiterated the commitment of Governor Yahaya Bello to revamping education in the state, saying that the feat would only be achieved in the atmosphere of peace and stability.
According to him, the issue of security in the state-owned tertiary institutions is paramount, hence the need to interface with heads of institutions and the relevant stakeholders.
Jones stressed that the meeting would enable the officials of the KSSTF to sensitise heads of tertiary institutions in the state on its activities, so that they could take advantage of the benefits.
”We want to ensure peace and stability on our campuses and in the entire Kogi State. I believe at the end of this meeting, all of us will be better informed,” he said.
He appealed to all relevant stakeholders to join hands with the state government in revamping education sector in the state.
Also speaking, Mr Paul Funsho Iselewa, the Board Chairman of KSSTF, noted that the board usually source for fund and dispense it to security agencies, to boost security of lives and property across the state.
He promised the board would collaborate with heads of institutions to check crime because of the rising cases of cultism, drug abuse and other criminal tendencies in schools.
”The governor is so much interested in sensitising the public on security; it is our, job as heads of institutions, to ensure security of lives and property on our various schools.
”So, we expect schools’ managements to take precautionary measures; ours is to assist you in doing your job,” he said.
Some of the heads of institutions and their representatives at the meeting commended the government for the gesture, saying it would help in consolidating their efforts in ensuring adequate security on their campuses.
Dr Usman Ogbo, the Acting Rector, Kogi State Polytechnic,Lokoja urged security agencies in the state to be more proactive in ensuring external security around schools in order to forestall avoidable crises.
On his part, Mr Ibrahim Yahaya, the Dean, Students Affairs, College of Education, Ankpa said the initiative was a very good one but called for increased commitment for effective implementation.
The Reporters, an online publication, reports that all the state-owned tertiary institutions were represented at the meeting.
