The Vice Chancellor of Kogi State University, Kabba, Professor Kehinde Eniola, has announced the university’s readiness to collaborate with the State Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation to improve internet access on campus.
Professor Eniola made this statement during a visit from the Commissioner for Science, Technology, and Innovation, Dr. Helen Aderibigbe, who toured the university on Tuesday. The Commissioner expressed her satisfaction with the development progress at the relatively young institution.
Dr. Aderibigbe acknowledged the vision of former Governor Yahaya Bello and commended the current administration, led by Governor Usman Ododo, for their continuous support, which has significantly contributed to the university’s growth. She expressed appreciation for the Vice Chancellor and the university’s management team for their dedication and was pleased to learn that the institution is open to partnerships with the ministry.
The Commissioner’s visit aimed to assess the university’s needs in the areas of ICT, digital literacy, and innovation. She emphasized the importance of providing free internet access on campus and expressed her desire to achieve this through collaboration with the Internet Society. She also assured the university of the ministry’s support for its continued development and encouraged the Vice Chancellor to reach out whenever assistance is needed.
In his address, Professor Eniola praised former Governor Yahaya Bello for his foresight in establishing the university, despite early skepticism. He also commended Governor Usman Ododo for his dedication to sustaining the university’s growth.
The Vice Chancellor outlined the institution’s aspirations to become a digital, entrepreneurial, and globally competitive university. He highlighted recent achievements by first-year business administration students in entrepreneurship and discussed future plans, including the production of gari and palm oil on campus.
Professor Eniola further shared the university’s focus on quality admissions and assessments, announcing that the National Universities Commission (NUC) had approved 25 academic programs. He revealed that the university received over twice the number of applications than available slots for its first intake, prompting the implementation of a cut-off point of 170.
To accommodate students who didn’t meet the cut-off, the university has partnered with the College of Agriculture ABU Kabba for A-level programs and IJMB exams. Additionally, there are plans to collaborate with the College of Education Mopa for a remedial program.
The Vice Chancellor emphasized the importance of the partnership with the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation to address challenges related to internet access and infrastructure. He also expressed gratitude to the governor for ongoing construction projects aimed at enhancing the university’s facilities.
During her visit, Dr. Aderibigbe was given a tour of the university’s digital center and other facilities.
