By Muslimat Itopa
Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, has directed the renovation of Government Science Secondary School, Lokoja, as part of his administration’s commitment to improving educational infrastructure and creating a conducive learning environment for students across the state.
The renovation is to be undertaken by the Forum of Former Commissioners in Kogi State under the All Progressives Congress (APC), with support from the state government.
Governor Ododo announced this during the distribution of back-to-school materials to students of the school by the forum in Lokoja.
The governor commended the former commissioners for the initiative, describing the provision of educational materials as a gesture that would support students and ease the financial burden on their parents.
He also demonstrated personal support for the students by presenting each of them with a cash gift of ₦2,000.
The items distributed included school bags, exercise books and school uniforms to assist the students in preparing for their academic activities.
In his remarks, the Principal of Government Science Secondary School, Lokoja, Mr. Ojapa Steven, expressed appreciation to the APC Forum of Former Commissioners for selecting the school as a beneficiary of the intervention.
He also commended the Kogi State Government for its education policies, particularly the payment of West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) fees and school fees for students in public schools across the state.
The principal further acknowledged the governor’s decision to appoint a former teacher as deputy governor, as well as the appointment of permanent secretaries from the teaching profession, describing these as gestures of recognition for the contributions of teachers to society.
He, however, appealed to the state government to sustain its intervention in the school and help restore its former standard.
According to him, the quality of education available in classrooms remains a major determinant of the future of any society.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the APC Forum of Former Commissioners, Sani Ogu Salisu, said the forum’s intervention was designed to complement the state government’s efforts in the education sector and reduce the financial pressure on parents and guardians.
He stressed that investment in education remained essential to sustainable development, noting that supporting students with learning materials and rewarding academic excellence would encourage them to work harder.
Salisu disclosed that the forum had introduced an award scheme to recognise outstanding academic performance in selected public schools across Kogi State.
Under the scheme, students who emerge first, second and third in their respective classes would receive cash awards of ₦50,000, ₦30,000 and ₦20,000, respectively, from Junior Secondary School Two (JSS 2) to Senior Secondary School Three (SSS 3).
He explained that the programme would cover five selected schools across the 21 local government areas of the state, as part of efforts to promote healthy academic competition and encourage students to excel.
The Chairman of the forum of APC former Commissioners called on Governor Ododo to give further attention to Government Science Secondary School, Lokoja, particularly in the area of infrastructure, to help restore the institution’s former glory.
He maintained that the strength of a nation lies in the quality of education provided to its young people and the condition of the classrooms in which they learn.
In a related development, former Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Mr. Matthew Kolawole, pledged to provide scholarships for the best-performing students in JSS 1, JSS 2 and JSS 3 throughout their secondary school education.
The scholarship pledge is expected to encourage academic excellence and provide additional support for students who demonstrate outstanding performance.
The intervention by the APC Forum of Former Commissioners, alongside the state government’s planned renovation of the school, underscores the importance of collaboration between public institutions and stakeholders in addressing educational needs.
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