Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to strengthening the education sector at all levels, describing it as a critical pillar for sustainable development in the state.
The Governor stated this at the 7th combined convocation ceremony of the Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU), Anyigba, where he joined parents, guardians, academics and other dignitaries to celebrate the graduating students.
Governor Ododo, who is the Visitor and Special Guest of Honour at the ceremony, assured the university community that his administration would continue to prioritise investment in the education sector through improved infrastructure, enhanced academic programmes and policies aimed at promoting students’ welfare.
“Education remains a top priority of my administration. We are committed to creating an enabling environment for learning, research and innovation,” the Governor said.
He paid glowing tribute to the visionary founder of the institution, the late Prince Abubakar Audu, describing the university as a legacy project established to educate and empower the people of Kogi State.
Governor Ododo highlighted several areas of intervention by his administration in the institution in recent years, including investments in health and medical education, accreditation of academic programmes, bursary schemes for students, improved security, internal road networks and other critical infrastructure.
He stressed that education must be inclusive, equitable and inspiring, noting that his administration has harmonised standards in tertiary institutions across the state to enable them to dream bigger and achieve more through research collaboration, resource sharing and academic synergy.
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his immense and visible impact on tertiary education nationwide, while also praising the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for its continued interventions.
Governor Ododo however called on the Federal Government to increase support to TETFund to further strengthen higher education institutions across the country.
Addressing the graduands, the Governor congratulated them on the successful completion of their academic programmes and urged them to be worthy ambassadors of both the university and Kogi State.
“You represent excellence, integrity and compassion. Wherever you find yourselves, uphold these values and always remember to give back to society when you become successful,” he advised.
Governor Ododo also commended the Vice-Chancellor and management of the institution for their commitment to academic excellence and infrastructural development.
He expressed gratitude for the conferment of honorary doctorate on him by the institution, dedicating it to all his predecessors, and reaffirmed his unwavering support for the growth of the University.
Governor Ododo also inspected key projects across the university campus, including administrative blocks, classrooms and internal road networks among others.
He expressed satisfaction with the progress of work and assured that his administration would continue to invest in projects that would place the university in the national and global limelight.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of Prince Abubakar Audu University, Professor Marietu Tenuche, described the convocation as a significant milestone in the history of the institution.
She disclosed that the ceremony covered graduating students from the 2022 to the 2025 academic sessions.
Professor Tenuche noted that since assuming office in 2020, her administration has recorded notable progress in academic excellence, research output and infrastructural development, despite prevailing challenges.
She revealed that the university graduated a total of 26,160 first degree graduands across the five year period, alongside 1,139 postgraduate students, with 64 degree awarding programmes, representing about a 40 per cent increase in programme offerings since her assumption of office.
The Vice-Chancellor also thanked Governor Ododo for his consistent support, particularly in the areas of security and staff and students’ welfare.
High point of the convocation was the conferment of a Honorary Doctorate Degree in Public Administration on Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo.
