Stakeholders disagree over calls to decentralize Kogi University

Some stakeholders in educational sector have disagreed over calls for the decentralization of Kogi State University campus, Fresh Angle International can report.

Our Kogi State Correspondent reports that the disagreement was brought to the fore during a public hearing on repeal and re-enactment of the bill for a law to establish Kogi State University, Anyingba organized by the Joint House Committee on Education, Science and Technology, Judiciary, Justice, Legal Matter and Protocol.

According to the stakeholders, the system has brought about limited utility for the institution, saying the introduction of a multi campus system, will encourage students from different geographical areas to acquire meaningful education.

Two socio-cultural groups, Ebira People Forum and Okun Economic Forum alleged that some regions have been marginalized in the state in terms of employment, admission and appointment of Principal Officers like the position of the Vice Chancellor. They posited that if multi campus system is adopted for the State owned Institution, it will serve a comparative advantage.

While presenting facts and figures to justify their position, the groups suggested that the multi campus system should cut across the East, West and Central Senatorial Districts of the Confluence State, adding that the management of the institution should stick to the culture as well as the traditions of the university.

But a representative of another group, Ojuju Agbaduku Igala Association expressed divergent views, insisting that the State government should focus on how to address brain drain in the university, rather than fragmenting the institution into multiple campuses.

The Registrar of Kogi State University in his submission, canvassed for the amendment of the existing law establishing the institution so as to make for a single term of five years in Office for the position of Vice Chancellor as against two-tenure currently being practiced.

The civil society championed by the Initiative for Grassroots Advancement, in a presentation through Hamza Aliu noted that the appointment of a Vice Chancellor, which is the sole responsibility of the visitor (the Kogi State Governor)  is not acceptable, stressing that the State House of Assembly should have an input in deciding who leads the institution.

Fresh Angle International can also report that the issue on whether the University should stop Certificate and Diploma Programmes or not also led to a wide debate at the public hearing.

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