A group under the aegis of the Education Task Force, Kogi Central Senatorial District, has appealed to the Kogi State Government to rebuild and revitalise three historic educational institutions in the state—Old Teachers College (OTC), Okene Secondary School (OSS) and LGSS Upogoro.
The group said the institutions, which once served as centres of academic excellence and attracted students from across Nigeria, had deteriorated over the years and required urgent government intervention.
In a statement signed by its coordinator and made available to journalists in Abuja on Sunday, Comrade Muhammed Yusuf Osana, the task force expressed concern over the condition of the schools, particularly Okene Secondary School, describing it as a shadow of its former self.
According to the group, OSS had become virtually inactive before efforts were initiated by its current management to revive the institution.
It added that the situation worsened after part of the school’s premises was converted into an army barracks during the administration of former Governor Yahaya Bello.
The group lamented that many affluent indigenes of Kogi Central now send their children to expensive schools outside the state while some of the region’s most prestigious institutions continue to decline.
“Okene Secondary School once enjoyed a national reputation, attracting students from different parts of Nigeria and beyond. Indians, Russians, Hausas, Yorubas and students from many other ethnic groups attended the school. It was a symbol of academic excellence and national unity,” the statement said.
The task force called on Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo and the Accountant-General of Kogi State, Dr Habibat Tijani Onumoko, to prioritise the rehabilitation of the schools, noting that their restoration would preserve educational heritage and provide quality learning opportunities for future generations.
The group also expressed concern over what it described as the absence of a federal government-owned secondary school in Kogi Central, noting that the Federal Technical College allocated to Kogi State was located in Kogi East during the previous administration.
It urged old students of the affected schools who currently occupy positions in government to use their influence to draw attention to the institutions’ challenges.
The statement said the group’s vision was to see Okene Secondary School restored as a fully functional day and boarding school capable of competing with leading secondary schools across the country.
On the issue of Old Teachers College, the task force acknowledged reports that parts of the institution’s land had been occupied by individuals claiming ownership but maintained that the matter could be resolved through political will and stakeholder engagement.
The group stressed that its appeal was made in the interest of educational development, preservation of historical institutions and the future of children in Kogi Central and beyond.
