The Kogi State Government has reiterated its commitment to strengthening the knowledge economy and cultivating a highly resourceful population through heavy investment in education. According to the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Hon. Kingsley Fanwo, the government has allocated significant funds to the education sector, establishing specialized institutions and providing free education from primary to secondary levels.
Fanwo emphasized that the government’s efforts are aimed at ensuring that children from disadvantaged backgrounds have equal educational opportunities as those from wealthier families. He noted that the state has legalized accessible and affordable education, providing bursaries to thousands of students at the higher education level.
The commissioner highlighted that Kogi State is outspending 23 other states in education in 2025, with a significant portion of the budget allocated to the sector. By signing the Education Bill into law, the government has institutionalized policies ensuring that free education up to the secondary level and bursaries at the tertiary level are a legal right for every Kogi child.
Fanwo also pointed out the strategic establishment of the Confluence University of Science and Technology in Osara and Kogi State University in Kabba. These institutions provide new opportunities for thousands of secondary school graduates, with the lowest number of out-of-school children in the North.
The commissioner noted that the Confluence University of Science and Technology was established to produce quality manpower for the state’s rapidly growing industries. With the state’s rich mineral resources, the government has broken ground on five gas plants at a single location, a first in Nigeria.
Fanwo emphasized that the state-owned universities will equip young minds to compete effectively in the industrializing economy. He highlighted ongoing major construction projects across all tertiary institutions to create more conducive learning environments.
The commissioner also mentioned the success in securing MBBS accreditation for CUSTECH, which will spark a radical revolution in healthcare delivery in the state. Additionally, the state government is almost completing the perimeter fencing of the 100 hectares of land on which CUSTECH is situated.
Fanwo noted that the government is committed to providing security gadgets in all tertiary institutions to ensure students’ safety. Furthermore, the Nigerian-Korean Friendship Institute is training hundreds of young people in various fields, with a new set of trainees set to graduate soon.
The commissioner concluded that the state is committed to providing the necessary tools for the trainees to stand on their feet and become employers of labor. With its heavy investment in education, the Kogi State Government is poised to create a highly skilled and resourceful population.
