Kogi State University, Kabba, has announced plans to establish primary and secondary school wings to help students build a strong academic foundation from an early stage.
The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Kehinde Eniola, made this known on Monday during a pre-matriculation press conference held in his office in Kabba.
Eniola, a professor of Environmental and Public Health Microbiology, explained the importance of the initiative, saying, “The university is matriculating its second set of students into the institution. We have realized that we need to establish our own primary and secondary schools to enable us to grow students from the basics and program them for the professions we wish them to take.”
He emphasized that a solid academic background in science and technology starts from a young age, adding, “Science and technology begin from a sound basic foundation available at the primary and secondary schools. So, we intend to go fully professional, giving them sound technical knowledge from the foundation.”
According to the Vice-Chancellor, the plan aims to make tertiary education easier and more interesting for students when they eventually get to the university. He observed that many students struggle with mathematics and science subjects due to poor foundational knowledge.
“Most university candidates struggle to get the required cut-off points needed for their admission. A sound basic knowledge from the beginning will help them a lot in getting their cut-off points,” Eniola said.
He also confirmed that the upcoming matriculation ceremony will officially mark the end of the admission process for the academic year. “We had more than 3,000 applications for admission, out of which 1,060 students were qualified and certified to study various courses in the university.”
Speaking about the university’s future plans, the Vice-Chancellor highlighted the management’s commitment to developing school infrastructure to handle the increasing number of applicants.
“We are in a hurry to develop school infrastructure to cope with the influx of candidates choosing the university for their studies,” he said.
Professor Eniola assured that the institution is working on boosting its internal revenue and partnering with corporate individuals and organizations to achieve massive infrastructural development.
He also praised the state governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, for his support, stating, “We appreciate the governor for his massive infrastructural development of the institution.”
The establishment of the primary and secondary schools is expected to provide a seamless academic pathway for students, nurturing them from the foundation to the university level.
