As Kogi State marks its 35 years of creation, the Provost of the State College of Education Ankpa, Dr. Paul Femi Fashagba FCNA has expressed his warm felicitations to the people of the State on the milestone celebration.
Dr. Fashagba in a statement congratulated Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo on the celebration of the milestone of the State three and half decades.
The Provost noted with satisfaction the outstanding performance of the Chief Servant, pointing out that the Ajaokuta Free Trade Zone, ongoing Kogi International Airport, Lokoja Ultra Modern Market among others are critical to making the State the Industrial hub of Nigeria in the nearest future.
He described the Anniversary Broadcast of the Governor as a wonderful piece that has reassured the people of a greater Kogi State under his pragmatic leadership.
Gov. Ododo Has Transformed Kogi, Says Fashagba at OJN Symposium
By Emmanuel Oluwakorede, Lokoja
The Provost described Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo as a rare and transformational leader whose administration has redefined governance in Kogi State in the last over two years in office.
“In just over two years at the helm of Kogi State affairs, His Excellency has dismantled the walls of doubt and erected monuments of progress that will outlive our generation,” he said.
On security, Dr. Fashagba noted that the present administration procured many patrol security vans and uncountable motorcycles, and recruited 50 hunters per local government area to strengthen community policing, resulting in a marked reduction in banditry and kidnapping across the state.
He also commended the Ododo administration’s investment in education, citing the revival and accreditation of the MBBS programme at Prince Abubakar Audu University and the payment of WAEC, NECO and JAMB fees for students across the state.
In the health sector, he pointed to the renovation of 84 primary healthcare centres statewide, the provision of solar power to health facilities, and the introduction of special allowances for medical personnel.
The Provost further highlighted the administration’s infrastructure drive, noting the construction and rehabilitation of roads, drainages and bridges across all 21 local government areas, with a minimum of 21 kilometres delivered per council.
He also praised the governor’s fiscal discipline, revealing that Kogi’s debt burden had been reduced from ₦121bn to about ₦35bn under his watch, alongside prompt payment of salaries and gratuities.
“Governor Ododo is the embodiment of what leadership should look like; purposeful, people-centred, and posterity-conscious. History will be exceedingly kind to him,” Fashagba said.
He noted that the governor’s youth inclusion drive, which has seen young people appointed as special advisers, senior special assistants and heads of ministries and parastatals, reflected a forward-looking approach to governance.
Dr. Fashagba added that with these achievements, Governor Ododo should be given another opportunity to consolidate on the achievements of his first tenure, calling for massive support across the State for his re-election.
