The Rector of Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, Prof. Salisu Usman Ogbo has described the institution as an epicentre of cultist activities and examination malpractices when he assumed office in 2020, adding that the school recorded and averted107 security threats in about five years.
Ogbo made the disclosure at an engagement where he rendered an account of his stewardship in Lokoja on Tuesday. The ceremony signalled the end of his first tenure and a transition into the second.
The Rector, a political scientist, highlighted how he was able to reposition the school to a repected citadel of learning. Key security measures put in place by his administration include the installation of open and hidden Close Circuit Television, CCTV cameras, provision of modern communication gadgets, patrol vehicles, and a strong intelligence gathering mechanism.
The Rector, who revealed that in every five students there is an informant, said that the initiatives have paid off, adding that the banning of tribal associations and certain end of session celebrations went a long way in sanitising the system.
On the pursuit of academic excellence, Ogbo reiterated the ban on the sale of handouts or lecture notes for marks and cheating during exams. He also disclosed that new security features have been added to the school’s certificates and results to improve their integrity.
He said all 57 academic programs of the polytechnic, including the 18 introduced under his watch, have been fully accredited by the National Board for Technical Education, NBTE.
The Rector commended the governing board, management, and staff for all the achievements recorded by his administration. He also thanked Governor Usman Ododo and former governor Yahaya Bello for their commitments to the Polytechnic.
Ogbo begins a second tenure immediately.
