By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
The outgoing Rector of Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, Prof. Salisu Ogbo Usman, on Wednesday charged the newly appointed Rector, Prof. Saliu Sanusi Avidime, to consolidate on the gains recorded in recent years and deepen ongoing reforms to move the institution to greater heights.
Prof. Ogbo gave the charge during the official handover ceremony held at the Polytechnic’s Council Chambers in Lokoja, where he formally handed over the baton of leadership to his successor.
Reflecting on his tenure, Ogbo said he was leaving behind a Polytechnic that is safer, stronger, more stable, and forward-looking than he met it. He recalled that his assumption of office as the 7th substantive Rector in April 2020 coincided with one of the most challenging periods in the institution’s history.
According to him, the Polytechnic at the time was plagued by institutional instability, serious security challenges, threats to accreditation, decaying infrastructure, weak ICT systems, strained stakeholder confidence, and prolonged gaps in convocation ceremonies.
“To confront these challenges, we adopted the 3Rs philosophy—Repair, Reform and Restore—with the unwavering support of stakeholders,” he said, adding that the strategy helped to restore order and reposition the institution for sustainable growth.
He noted that security and sanity were fully restored on campus, effectively ending cultism, fear, and disorder. Academic integrity, he said, was strengthened through the deployment of e-governance systems, secure result and certificate platforms, prompt release of examination results, and improved quality assurance mechanisms.
“For the first time in the history of the Polytechnic, annual reports were institutionalised to document progress and preserve institutional memory,” Ogbo added.
One of the high points of his administration, he said, was the successful re-accreditation of all academic programmes, culminating in a historic 100 per cent Full Accreditation Status by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
He further disclosed that new programmes were introduced, new schools established, and academic partnerships—particularly with the Federal University Lokoja and the National Space Research and Development Agency (NARSDA)—were revived or initiated to expand opportunities for staff and students.
In his inaugural address, the new Rector, Prof. Saliu Sanusi Avidime, a Professor of Political Science and the 8th substantive Rector of the institution, pledged to build on the solid foundation laid by his predecessor with fresh ideas and innovations.
Avidime expressed appreciation to the outgoing Rector for his achievements, noting that while the task ahead was enormous, his administration would consolidate existing gains and introduce new initiatives.
He emphasised that the core mandate of the Polytechnic is to provide accessible and quality education, stressing that the Kogi State Government remains committed to that objective.
The new Rector cautioned staff and students against rumour-mongering and indiscipline, urging them to shun gossip and unwholesome practices.
“I do not pass judgment without evidence. I treat you the way you portray yourself,” he said.
He also warned students against vices capable of destabilising the institution or undermining the pursuit of academic excellence.
Avidime commended former Governor Yahaya Bello for his commitment to youth empowerment and inclusion, as well as Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for providing adequate funding for the Polytechnic.
He thanked the Chairman and members of the Governing Council for the trust reposed in him, assuring them that the confidence would not be misplaced.
“By the special grace of God, you will not regret this decision,” he said.
Prof. Ogbo Tasks New Kogi Poly Rector on Deepening Reforms, Consolidation
