In a significant move to retain top-tier talent within Kogi State, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has announced automatic employment for the best-graduating students from each faculty at the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara. This policy, declared during the institution’s maiden combined convocation ceremony, transcends a simple reward; it represents a strategic investment in the state’s human capital and a powerful incentive for academic excellence.
Governor Ododo used the historic occasion to commend his predecessor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, for the foundational vision of establishing CUSTECH. He lauded the pioneering students and staff for their resilience and commitment, stating that their success validates the initial investment and effort. “The end has truly justified the means,” the governor noted, acknowledging the sacrifices made to get the university off the ground.
Delving deeper into his administration’s educational philosophy, Governor Ododo emphasized that providing a conducive environment for universities to thrive remains a cardinal objective. He recognized the pivotal role these institutions play in human capital development, even in the face of “contending demands from the lean resources available.” His administration, he pledged, will “continue to commit reasonable resources to their development, to make them qualitative, accessible and affordable.”
“I am determined more than ever before to continue to do more in encouraging excellence in the state ivory towers to make them fall within the first brackets in progressive Universities index in the country,” Ododo stated. This vision extends beyond CUSTECH to a broader, strategic plan for Kogi’s tertiary education landscape. “Our focus is to make the three State Universities, spread across the three Senatorial Districts of the State, Centres of Excellence, to ensure their mobility and enhance competitiveness on the national scale.” He expressed hope that these institutions would soon produce “significant scientific and technological breakthrough to justify their existence.”
Acknowledging the initial security challenges that threatened the nascent university, Governor Ododo provided crucial reassurance. He asserted that the government has implemented “formidable security measures” to safeguard the lives and property of students and staff. Citing positive statistics, he highlighted that CUSTECH has successfully “weathered the storm” and now enjoys an “upward mobility of intakes,” transforming it into a “University of destination.” He assured the community of the government’s “determination to completely extirpate any further threat of security,” ensuring a safe environment for all educational institutions in the state.
Finally, Governor Ododo issued a challenge to the university itself, urging it to intensify its efforts to become a globally recognized “citadel of learning” that offers tangible solutions to societal and environmental problems. He concluded by framing the convocation as a milestone proving the state’s investment in CUSTECH is already “yielding dividends as the graduates go into the labour market to maximally contribute to national development.” This event, therefore, marks not just a celebration of past achievements but a strategic launchpad for Kogi State’s future intellectual and economic prosperity.