‎5th Combined Convocation : Kogi Poly Graduates 6,824 students, Records Academic Turnaround

By Aubakar Suleman

‎Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, has recorded significant improvements in academic standards, especially in security, and institutional governance, graduated 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 academic session totalling  6,824 graduands at its 5th Combined Convocation Ceremony.

‎The Rector of the Polytechnic, Professor Salisu Ogbo Usman disclosed this on Thursday during a press briefing held as part of activities marking the convocation.

‎Reflecting on the state of the institution at the time his administration assumed office, the Rector said the Polytechnic was grappling with deep-seated challenges, including cultism, insecurity, poor infrastructure, weak academic culture, and eroded public confidence.

‎According to him, cultism and other social vices had gained alarming prominence, threatening academic stability and damaging the institution’s reputation, while the campus environment was characterized by dilapidated infrastructure, weak ICT facilities, absence of functional student hostels, ethnic polarisation, and strained relations with regulatory and funding agencies due to abandoned projects.

‎He further revealed that most academic programmes suffered prolonged accreditation challenges, with some lingering for as long as nine years, alongside a huge backlog of convocation ceremonies despite continuous graduation of students.

‎“To address these challenges, we adopted the 3R Mission of Repair, Reform, and Restore, which has guided our interventions through stakeholder engagement and a committee-driven approach,” he said.

‎Giving a breakdown of the graduating students, professor Usman said 6,824 students who completed their programmes in the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 academic sessions were approved by the Academic Board for graduation.

‎He stated that 3,892 students are graduating at the National Diploma (ND) level, while 2,932 are graduating with Higher National Diploma (HND).

‎Out of the total number, 51 ND students and 66 HND students graduated with distinctions across various schools and departments.

‎The Rector noted that the healthy distribution of distinctions, upper credits, lower credits, and passes reflects improved academic discipline, strengthened examination integrity, and enhanced teaching and learning outcomes.

‎“This performance profile reinforces the Polytechnic’s reputation for producing graduates who are academically sound, practically equipped, and industry-ready,” he said.

‎He added that the timely release of results and the absence of backlogs signal the institution’s transition from uncertainty to predictability and academic confidence.

‎On quality assurance, the Rector highlighted the introduction of a new Statement of Result template with enhanced security features to prevent falsification, alongside the deployment of e-examination, e-results computation, and e-payment systems.

‎“These reforms have improved transparency, boosted confidence in examinations, and ensured prompt release of results,” he noted.

‎He also announced the enforcement of a zero-tolerance policy against extortion, imposition of textbooks, and other unethical practices.

‎Addressing security, the Rector said the administration adopted a multi-layered strategy that included intelligence gathering, construction of the Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello Security House, deployment of CCTV cameras, provision of patrol vehicles and communication gadgets, and extensive campus illumination with solar streetlights.

‎He disclosed that between May 2020 and January 2026, a total of 107 security threats were detected and neutralized, while notorious criminal hideouts and illegal examination syndicates were dismantled.

‎He commended the Kogi State Government under Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for expanding CCTV coverage and solar lighting on campus, and revealed that an additional 50 solar streetlights were recently donated to the institution through private support and would be installed at the Itakpe Campus.

‎“As we prepare to exit, we are leaving behind no abandoned projects and no backlog of results. These achievements are products of deliberate planning, fiscal discipline, and strong institutional governance,” the Rector said.

‎He commended former Governor Yahaya Bello for giving him the opportunity to serve, and also praised Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for his appointment as Vice-Chancellor of Prince Abubakar Audu University, in Anyigba, assuring Kogites of continued quality service delivery.