The Wife of the Kogi State Governor, Hajia Sefinat Usman Ododo, has called on women across Nigeria to take advantage of every available opportunity to better their lives. Mrs. Ododo made this statement during the distribution of sewing and grinding machines to over 100 beneficiaries through the Ododo Cares Empowerment Programme, held at the Government House in Lokoja. The initiative was organized by the Kogi State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.

The First Lady explained that the programme aims to support small and medium-scale businesses throughout the state. She encouraged the beneficiaries to make good use of the items to enhance their livelihoods and support their families, while also warning them against selling the equipment.

Hajia Sefinat reiterated Governor Usman Ododo’s dedication to creating an environment that fosters wealth creation for all citizens. She emphasized the state government’s continuous efforts to empower women and the general population, aiming to alleviate poverty across Kogi State.

Mrs. Ododo also expressed her gratitude to the Kogi State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Fatima Momoh, for her initiatives and unwavering support for women’s empowerment through the ministry.

END

By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja

National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC), is soon to embark on Needs Assessment and Community Mapping Enumeration of flood prone riverine communities in Kogi state.

Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa, Managing Director of the Commission said the effort is to drive its interventions in effective provision and distribution of needed infrastructures and other facilities for flood disaster victims.

The Managing Director disclosed this during a visit to the Atta-Igala, His Royal Majesty Matthew Opaluwa Oguche-Akpa in continuation of the Flood Advocacy Sensitization to Idah, Kogi East Senatorial District.

Yelwa who was represented by his Director of Administration and Finance (DAF), Alhaji Haruna Jimoh Gabi said the effort was aimed at assuaging the hardships caused by the floods and as well, uplift the living standard of the flood disaster victims.

“The Need Assessment and Community Mapping Enumeration will enable N-HYPPADEC know facilities that are either lacking or insufficient in various riverine communities for its quick intervention.”

He said that the Commission would commence provision of basic infrastructures such as potable water, health facilities, roads, rural electrification and relief materials in order of needs of the people after the needs assessment and mapping.

“I am assuring you that in the next one week, enumerators will commence work on the project to enable us know relevant facilities the people need in order of their priorities,” he said.

Yelwa urged members of the riverine communities to avail themselves of the opportunity by co-operating with the enumerators for the success of the project.

Responding, the Atta Igala, His Royal Majesty Alaji Matthew Opaluwa Oguche-Akpa, commended N-HYPPADEC for its humanitarian interventions to assuage the plight of the people across the state, especially among flood prone communities in the state.

The Atta-Igala who was represented by one of his chiefs, His Royal Highness Ibrahim Atadoga, the “Inalogu-Atta”of, described the Need Assessment and Community Mapping Enumeration Project as a welcome development.

He assured N-HYPPADEC of cooperation of his subjects towards the realisation of the project.

The Monarch once again, reiterated his call on the Federal Government to construct more dams on Rivers Niger and Benue channels across the country to check the annual flooding of parts of the country. (Ends)

***Lauds Prof. Olayemi Akinwumi’s devt strides

By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja

KOGI State Elders Forum has decried the persistent neglect of Federal University Lokoja (FUL) by the state government leaving developmental initiatives in the institution to the Federal Government and private individuals.

Chairman of the Forum, Chief (Dr) Julius Elukpo disclosed this when he led some members of the forum on a courtesy visit to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olayemi Akinwumi at the Felele Campus of the institution.

Elukpo regretted that while other Federal universities created same time with the FUL were developing fast with the support of the Federal and host State Governments, the Lokoja Federal varsity was lagging behind.

He said, “We observed that the University in our domain in Kogi State, compared to the universities it was created together with at the same time, is lagging behind.”

Chief Elukpo said the state might not be aware of its responsibilities to the Federal University saying, “The VC has said that they’ve not felt the impact of the Kogi State Government on this campus of the Federal University, Lokoja.

“They may not be aware of their responsibilities towards it. We are going to have interaction with the State Government and to discuss the areas both the state government and some individuals would come to assist the university.

The Forum Chairman however applauded the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Akinwumi for changing the narratives of lack of development saying that his era has witnessed dramatic turn around.

“Sometimes in the past, we were not satisfied with the performance of the Federal University in our domain in Kogi State as we discovered that it was lagging behind compared to the universities it was created together with.

“And we saw this as an issue of performance of the leadership. So, the Elders Forum craved for the appointment of an Indigene as the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University. Fortunately, an Indigene was appointed. Now we are proud of the university”, the Elders Forum Chairman declared.

Other members of Kogi Elders Forum on the visit Amb. Usman Bello, Alhaji Isa Adeboye, Chief (Dr) Femi Ajisafe and Aderemi Seyi Ayodele.

Speaking earlier, Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Olayemi Akinwumi, lamented over the utter neglect of the University by subsequent administrations in Kogi State.

The Professor of History said that despite being a Federal institution, it was imperative for the state to show interest in the its development as he noted that the Federal government alone can not provide all the needs of the University.

The Vice Chancellor said that the institution was facing difficulties in which the state could intervene adding that the students’ population had grown from 6,000 to 17,000 with 10 faculties from four aside the new College of Health Sciences.

He said that the University was facing difficulties in obtaining a Certificate of Occupation (C of O) for the permanent aside security concerns, hindering the use of the gigantic students’ hostels adding that Kogi State presently has no
representation in the University’s Governing Council.

Prof. Akinwumi urged the Kogi Elders Forum to become ambassadors for the university, attracting development and support from the state government and private entities. (Ends)