Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo has made it clear that the State government will continue to excel in the area of child rights promotion and free education for the young ones in a secured environment.
The Commissioner, who announced the rescue of the remaining eight students of the Conference University of Science and Technology, Osara, from their kidnappers, said: “now that the remaining students have been rescued, our administration will continue the drive to recalibrate our security architecture and pay an uncompromising attention to the Safe School Initiative.
“As the State with the lowest out of school children in the North, we have put structures in place to keep our schools safe to ensure every child is not deprived of his or her right to education.
“Kogi has domesticated the Child Rights Act and we will defend the right of our children to quality education.
“In Kogi State, education is free up to the Secondary School level. “We also pay the registration fees for our students to write all internal and external examinations with a budgetary allocation that is way above the UNESCO benchmark for education. We do all of these to educate our children and make them responsible contributors to the economy of Nigeria.”
The Commissioner said that the State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo has directed full support towards the recovery of the students and their parents, and that modalities are being put in place to make Kogi safer for all.
“The Government of Kogi State expresses profound gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for directing the mobilization of resources to ensure the rescue of the kidnapped students.
“We also thank the National Security Adviser immensely for his commitment to the release of the students and the general security of the State.
“The Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Naval Staff, the Chief of Air Staff, the Director General of DSS, the Inspector General of Police and all the officers and men of the Armed Forces that put in their best as well as the Pilots, did a wonderful job to support us in reuniting the kidnapped students with their families.
“The Kogi State Command of all the security agencies, Police, DSS, NSCDC and our local hunters are also highly appreciated for their efforts towards this feat.
“Governor Ododo also expresses immense gratitude to his Kwara State counterpart, Governor AbdulRahmam AbdulRazak for his personal commitment, cooperation and support towards the success of the operation that led to the rescue of the remaining kidnapped students.
“The Kwara State Governor showed the reason he is effectively leading the Nigerian Governors Forum.
“His actions have also reinforced the Kogi/Kwara cooperation and unity of purpose.”
“We urge our citizens to always volunteer intelligence to security agencies to enable them to prevent crime. This is safer, cheaper and better for us all.
“All of us must come together to defeat banditry, kidnapping and any form of criminality in our society.

Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo has vowed to make the state unsafe for all manner of criminal elements.
He said that the security agencies are fully equal to the task, commending them for their gallantry.
The Governor, according to his spokesperson, Ismaila Isah, spoke to mammot crowd of supporters who welcome him into Lokoja after the affirmation of his November 11 electoral victory by the electoral Tribunal in Abuja.
Ismaila Isah quoted Governor Ododo as saying: “Kogi state shall remain unsafe for criminal elements wherever they may come from.”
The Governor commended the security agencies in the state for their commitment and gallantry in protecting lives and property in all parts of the state.
Ododo invited opposition parties to join him in advancing the development of the state.
“Today, we celebrate a significant milestone – our court victory. This triumph is not just mine, but belongs to every Kogite. I assure you that the mandate entrusted upon me will not be taken for granted.
“As a servant leader, I pledge to serve you to the best of my ability, ensuring that every Kogite has access to quality education, sustainable infrastructure, and security of lives and property.”
Governor Ododo stressed that the affirmation of his victory by the governorship election tribunal is a further motivation for his administration to continue to improve on social welfare, security of lives and property, access to free education and quality healthcare, promoting industrialization and agricultural development and ensuring peaceful coexistence among the people of the state.
“I stand before you today, humbled and grateful, to express my deepest appreciation for your unwavering support. To the vibrant youth and women groups, I thank you for your tireless efforts and dedication to our great state.
“To my commissioners and government appointees, I commend you for your unrelenting commitment to our shared vision.”
Governor Ododo had earlier in the day, arrived Lokoja, the state capital to a rousing welcome by a mammoth crowd of supporters from across the state.
The supporters, including members of All Progressives Congress (APC) from the 21 local government areas in the state, traders, artisans, members of the Transport Unions, students, youth and women groups converged on major streets in the state in a glorious climax of a carnival-like three-day long street party to welcome the Governor.
From Gegu in Kogi Local Government Area through Koton-Karfe, around the Murtala Muhammed Bridge in Jamata, Nataco Junction to the Government House in Lokoja, the jubilant crowd thronged the streets and brought the convoy of the Governor to momentous halts at different points as Governor Ododo acknowledged cheers from the crowd of joyous supporters.