The dire state of public education in rural Kogi State has come under sharp focus, with the Catholic Bishop of Idah Diocese, Anthony Ademu Adaji, issuing a strong condemnation of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s administration.
Speaking during a chrism mass at Saint Boniface Cathedral, the Bishop decried the shocking conditions in Kogi East schools, where students are reportedly forced to receive lessons and write examinations on bare floors.
Bishop Adaji, visibly upset, stated that less than 10% of public schools in Kogi State are functioning adequately, with Kogi East Senatorial District being the worst affected by the “total shambles” in education over the past eight to nine years.
He challenged the State Government’s claims of investing heavily in education, pointing out the stark contrast between schools in the state capital and the deplorable conditions in rural communities, where the majority of Kogi’s population resides.
“On a very serious note, you cannot get 5% functional public schools in Kogi East, yet billions of naira are being budgeted for education year in, year out,” the Bishop lamented.
He urged Governor Ododo to personally visit these schools in Kogi East, asserting that anyone who values education would “weep” at the sight.
Bishop Adaji called on Governor Ododo to prioritize education and infrastructure alongside the ongoing regular payment of salaries, emphasizing their crucial role in the development of Kogi State. “Governor Ododo should do the needful before it is too late,” he warned.
The Bishop appealed directly to the Governor, saying, “I am appealing to Governor Ododo that as he has started the goodwill of paying regular salaries to both State and local government workers, he should also include education and infrastructure as part of the mandate of his responsibility as both are necessary for the development of Kogi State.