Kogi journalists urge Ododo to rename CUSTECH in honour of Yahaya Bello

The Kogi Central Journalists’ Guild has called on the Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo to rename the Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara in honour of the former governor of the state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.

In a press statement on Tuesday by the Guild’s National Chairman, Alhaji Muhammad Tijani Abdulsalam, and the Secretary, Mr. Ozumi Abdul, the guild said such recognition would reciprocate Yahaya Bello’s unparalleled legacy in education, and other key sectors that propelled the state to enviable position in the country.

The guild also pointed out that education sector was in disarray before 2016, adding that Bello’s administration convened an Education Summit in 2018 that birthed an education roadmap and led to the enactment of the 2020 Education Law.

The journalists group listed Bello’s administration achievements in education to include allocation of over 30% of the budget to education annually from 2021, surpassing the UNESCO benchmark.

The statement added, “Bello’s efforts reduced out-of-school children from over 550,000 to fewer than 87,000 by 2019, while a total of 833 classrooms were renovated as 1,800 new blocks were also constructed.”

The guild stressed that the former governor “Established model science schools and declared free education in public schools from primary to secondary level, and paid WAEC, NECO, and JAMB fees for students.

The group maintained that “These efforts led to a sharp increase in students’ performance in national exams and culminated in the establishment of two state universities, CUSTECH in 2021 and Kogi State University, Kabba in 2023,making Bello the only governor in Kogi’s history to achieve such a feat.”

The guild concluded that “renaming CUSTECH after Yahaya Bello would not only honour his vision for science and technological advancement, but will also immortalize a leader who gave the state a new identity in unity, development, and governance.”

“Governor Ododo has a moral and historical responsibility to recognize the man who laid the foundation for modern Kogi.”

“Renaming CUSTECH to Yahaya Adoza Bello University of Science and Technology will be a fitting tribute to a transformational leader,” the statement added.