Over 3000 Students jostling for Admission in Kogi State University, Kabba, Targets 1500 Students for Admission, Matriculation January 10
By Olugbemi Femi – Kabba
As the Kogi State University, Kabba is set to commence its full activities on January 8th, 2024, over three thousand (3000) students have applied for admission for the 2023/2024 academic calendar.
Speaking to journalists in his office at the permanent site of the newly established state-owned citadel of learning in kilometer 6, Kabba – Okene road, Kabba, the pioneer Vice Chancellor, Professor Kehinde Eniola said the institution will be digital-based and admonished prospective students that will be lucky to be admitted as the pioneer students should be prepared for the new order.
He commended Governor Yahaya Bello for his visionary leadership that saw the need of establishing such an institution to fulfill the agelong desire of the people of Okunland whose only trade is education, stressing that the administration has planted a seed that will forever bring forth fruits for the betterment of the society.
He said, the University is dear to the heart of Governor Yahaya Bello hence he has made everything available for the institution to take off as planned; stressing that with the facilities on ground, the citadel of learning is more than ready to take off, pointing out that the journey so far has been smooth.
Professor Eniola said within three days the institution opened its portal for admission, the five hundred (500) quota given to them by the Nigeria Universities Commission (NUC) was surpassed which prompted the request for upward review. The new target is 1500 students but the facilities on campus can accommodate more than two thousand for takeoff.
He noted the challenges of accommodation and transportation for the students when they finally resume on the 8th January, 2024 and pointed out that the Senate of the institution being the highest decision organ will meet next week to approve the 2023/2024 academic calendar for the university.
He also commended Obaro of Kabba and Chairman, Okun Traditional Council, Oba Solomon Owoniyi and other traditional rulers for their monumental support and encouragement that have been their source of joy since the management resumed over one month ago, pointing out that the host community are friendly and peaceful.
Professor Eniola also commended the efforts of the Kabba Development Union (KDU) for their collaborative efforts in getting something done effortlessly, saying such collaboration will continue with the development union and other reputable individuals and organizations in the private sector to tackle the accommodation and transportation challenges.
He said the university will partner with development partners to develop affordable hostel accommodations for the students while the university will be an intermediary between them because the students are their babies, and as a father they will want to look after their wellbeing, stressing that the initiative will go a long to solve the accommodation challenges.
‘Being a new school, there will be a mix of the old and young. Wherever they may be coming from as lecturers, we will have ICT capacity building for them to train them on how to be ICT compliance because the students are digital native who are already used to smartphones, the lecturer who is ready to go along with them have to migrate, that is digital migrant, while digital aliens are those that we say which is one is this, these people have come again while digital skeptics are those that always believe that ICT is always a problem, all these are people that will be blended together for the institution to achieve it’s missions and objectives”
On security, ‘you know Governor Yayaha Bello is a security conscious Governor and we have gotten assurances from the security agencies in the state, with the Mopol 70 which is stone throw to the campus, couple with the fact that the area is peaceful, calm and above all, God who is the ultimate security for all, I am not sure there is any cause for alarm’
He specially acknowledged the giant efforts of Dr. (Mrs) Victoria Jagboro, Provost of the Kogi State College of Education Technical, Mopa whose facilities the university inherited in Kabba, describes her landmark achievements in the area of infrastructure as monumental.
He said the university will be digital base; hence both the teaching and none teaching staff would have to be ICT compliant because their job would not be only physical, it can also be virtual, as all lecture theatres will be equipped with projectors and smart boards, noting that the institution is set out to compete favorably with other institutions not only in Nigeria but across the globe.
The Vice Chancellor said the students will resume on 8th January, while the matriculation ceremony will come up on the 10th January at the permanent site of the campus in Kabba while full academic activities starts on 15th January, 2024.
It will be recalled that the Nigeria University Commission (NUC) approved 25 programmes for the institution to kickoff.
The interview was coordinated by the Public Relation Officer of the university, Hon Tade Oshaloto
