In just over a year in office, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has quietly but powerfully reshaped governance in Kogi State — and the results are earning widespread praise.
Speaking on Nigeria Info FM Abuja on Wednesday, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Ismaila Isah, described Ododo’s leadership as a rare blend of compassion, inclusivity, and effectiveness.
Isah said Governor Ododo’s ability to connect deeply with the people — regardless of age, gender, or political affiliation — has transformed the political atmosphere of Kogi State into one of peace, cooperation, and shared progress.
“Governor Ododo did not wait to be sworn in before reaching out,” Isah said.
“He traveled across the country, meeting former governors, political leaders from all sides, traditional rulers, and captains of industry. His message was simple but powerful: governance under his watch would be for everyone.”
This unprecedented level of consultation, Isah noted, helped build broad support across political divides, ensuring a rancor-free political environment that has persisted throughout his administration.
At the heart of Governor Ododo’s style is a fierce commitment to inclusivity: women occupy key government positions, and young people make up over 80% of his appointments — a first in the state’s history.
Beyond building bridges, Governor Ododo has been delivering on his promises. Guided by a clear agenda — human capital development, agricultural investment and food security, security, and infrastructure expansion — his administration is ticking off milestones that directly impact the lives of ordinary Kogites.
Isah highlighted Kogi’s difficult security landscape, bordered by nine states and the FCT, but said the Governor’s swift, community-based security initiatives have made a dramatic difference.
“Through collaboration with neighboring states and active local engagement, we have drastically reduced criminal activity. Over 2,000 local hunters have been recruited, vigilante groups expanded, and critical logistics — vehicles, motorcycles, night vision equipment — provided to boost security,” he stated.
On infrastructure, Governor Ododo’s legacy is already taking shape. Major roads abandoned for years have been completed; rural areas are being opened up; and donor agencies like the World Bank are partnering on ambitious projects to link farming communities to markets.
In Lokoja alone, two major roads — the 9km Zone 8–Barracks–Zango–GYB Junction road and the 5.5km Zone 8–Crusher road — were completed and commissioned by Vice President Kashim Shettima at Ododo’s first anniversary celebrations.
Roads are also springing up across the 21 local government areas, with some already completed and awaiting commissioning.
“Recently, the Governor visited Yagba East and Yagba West. In Egbe, a completed township road project is ready for commissioning — just one example of the rapid infrastructural transformation happening across the state,” Isah revealed.
Education has not been left behind. Governor Ododo inherited two fledgling universities — the Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara, and Kogi State University, Kabba — and has poured significant resources into their growth.
“At KSU Kabba alone, over N10 billion has been invested to secure full accreditation for most courses. Governor Ododo is ensuring these institutions become national models,” Isah said.
Healthcare reform is another top priority, with over 200 primary healthcare centres undergoing revitalization — nearly half of which are ready for commissioning.
In all areas — governance, security, education, infrastructure, health — Governor Ododo is charting a course rarely seen in Nigerian politics: a government that listens, includes, and delivers.
“Governor Ododo is showing that leadership is not about power — it is about people. And the people of Kogi State are responding with unprecedented support,” Isah concluded.
