FUL 37TH INAGURAL LECTURE: PROFESSOR SALISU OGBO USMAN GIVES PROFOUND GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION
I wish to express my profound and heartfelt appreciation to institutions and individuals whose personal presence, moral and financial support and prayers contributed immensely to the success of my Inaugural Lecture held at the Federal University Lokoja, on 14th January, 2026.
I specifically appreciate the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olayemi Akinwumi, the Senate, and the entire Management of the University for the exceptional leadership, meticulous planning, and flawless execution that culminated in the success of the programme. The institutional support, administrative foresight, and collective commitment to academic excellence not only dignified the occasion but also reaffirmed the University’s enviable place as a citadel of scholarship and intellectual rigour.
I am deeply honoured by the presence and moral support of the Executive Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, ably represented by the Deputy Governor, His Excellency, Elder Joel Oyibo. This gesture stands as a clear demonstration of the State Government’s enduring commitment to scholarship, intellectual advancement, and the strengthening of the vital link between governance and the academy. Your presence elevated the stature of the occasion and served as a powerful encouragement to scholars within and beyond the State.
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My sincere gratitude goes to the Vice-Chancellors of sister universities and other heads of tertiary institutions whose presence underscored the spirit of inter-institutional solidarity and academic fraternity. Your attendance was a strong affirmation of our shared commitment to knowledge production, mentorship, and the advancement of higher education as a tool for national development.
I am profoundly indebted to Professor Hassan Isah, former Vice-Chancellor of Kogi State University, Anyigba (now Prince Abubakar Audu University); my M.Sc. and PhD supervisors, Professors Lucky Ovwasa and Shaibu Ibrahim; the President of the Nigerian Political Science Association (NPSA), Professor Hassan Salihu; and other distinguished Professors too numerous to mention. Your mentorship, scholarly guidance, intellectual discipline, and personal sacrifices laid the foundation upon which this milestone stands. This inaugural lecture is, in many respects, a collective triumph born of your enduring influence.
I deeply appreciate the presence of the eminent traditional rulers drawn from the three senatorial districts of Kogi State. Your attendance symbolises the enduring bond between scholarship, culture, and traditional authority, and serves as a powerful reminder that intellectual progress thrives best when anchored in communal values, history, and shared identity.
My sincere appreciation also goes to the Secretary to the Government of Kogi State, Dr. Mrs. Folashade Ayoade; Members of the State House of Assembly; Honourable Commissioners; Special Advisers; Senior Special Assistants; Special Assistants; Local Government Chairmen; Councillors; and party stalwarts at both state and local government levels. Your overwhelming presence and support reflect a commendable recognition of the role of the academy in shaping policy, governance, and sustainable development.
I warmly acknowledge my friends and colleagues in academia, the principal officers, staff, and students of Kogi State Polytechnic for their solidarity, encouragement, and shared pride throughout this journey. Your support has been a constant source of strength and inspiration, and your presence reaffirmed the enduring bonds of collegiality, mentorship, and institutional loyalty.
To my immediate family, whose love, patience, prayers, and sacrifices sustained me through the demanding years of scholarship, I owe an immeasurable debt of gratitude. Your quiet strength, unwavering belief, and unspoken endurance remain the unseen pillars behind this milestone.
Above all, I return all glory, honour, and gratitude to God Almighty, the ultimate source of wisdom and grace. May He reward everyone who supported this journey according to His infinite mercy and continue to guide us all in the pursuit of knowledge, service, and truth.
Thank you all.
Professor Salisu Ogbo Usman, PhD, FCIA, FABEN, FCIEEE
(Oma’oja Ata Igala)
Rector, Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja
(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER, JANUARY 16TH 2026)
