Compiled By Ademu Seidu H.
Kogi State Government has congratulated the newly matriculated students of the State Polytechnic, and warned them against indulging in any act of criminality.
The state’s Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Wemi Jones, FCIB, gave the warning at the 27th Matriculation Ceremony of Kogi State Polytechnic on Friday in Lokoja.
The commissioner congratulated the matriculating students and their parents on behalf of the governor and himself, for being part of the few admitted students among many that applied.
Jones also congratulated the Acting Rector of the institution, Dr Salisu Usman Ogbo, for the physical transformations he had brought to the school within a short period of time.
According to him, Kogi people are known for academic brilliance when in the northern region, and under Kwara and Benue.
”His Excellency want to bring to bear in this institution not just for physical development of the institution but also for academic brilliance and excellence both nationally and internationally, hence the choice of the present acting rector”, he said.
He noted that Kogi was the first state in the federation to reopened schools at all levels, saying ”to the glory of God we have not recorded any incident of Covid-19”.
The commissioner encouraged the matriculating students and the returnees to ensure they observed and maintained good personal hygiene, and be health conscious.
He, however warned the matriculating students against indulging in any form of criminality including cultism, stressing that the security apparatus were strong and proactive enough to catch up with perpetrators anywhere.
He added: ”Do not be cut in the web of any form of criminality, don’t be an accomplice or a partaker of any act of criminality including cultism, and the good Lord will see you through”.
Earlier in his speech, the Acting Rector, Dr Salisu Usman Ogbo, thanked Gov. Yahaya Bello, for finding him worthy of the historic appointment, saying, ”I shall continue to pray and work towards the realisation of his dream for a united and indivisible Kogi State, in every sphere of my responsibility within and outside the institution”.
Ogbo implored the matriculants to use the historic nature of his appointment to be focused, determined and committed to their dreams irrespective of their backgrounds or affiliations.
He further advised the students to respect, obey and maintain all the preventive, hygiene and social distance protocols as reeled out by the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 pandemic.
The rector called on the parents and guardians for their maximum support and cooperation especially in fulfilling their obligations to the institution so as to achieve their collective purposes.
In the company of the Hon Commissioner was the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Pastor Emmanuel Idenyi, and other management staff of the ministry.
A total of 9,033 students were matriculated spread across all the departments of the institution.
Compiled By Ademu Seidu H.
PRO, KOGI MOEST
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