The Kogi State Government has officially flagoff the renovation of 728 government-owned public secondary schools across the State under the AGILE Project. The event took place at the Glass House, Government House Lokoja, on Thursday.
Performing the ceremony, the Governor represented by his Deputy, His Excellency Comrade Joel Salifu, said the project shows the government’s strong commitment to improving education in Kogi State. He explained that the initiative is part of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and is aimed at giving students better learning environments.
He noted that many public schools in the State have been in use for many years and now need repairs and upgrades. According to him, the renovation will make schools safer, more comfortable, and better for learning. He added that the government wants every child in Kogi State to learn in a good environment and every teacher to teach in better conditions.
The Governor also appreciated the support of the First Lady of Kogi State, Hajia Sefinat Usman Ododo, for her passion for education, especially for the girl-child. He commended the Commissioner for Education, Hon. Wemi Jones, the Project Coordinator, Comrade Tijani Oricha, and the entire team for their hard work in making the project a reality.
He thanked development partners, especially the World Bank, for their support and partnership in the project.
He called on community members and School-Based Management Committees to take care of the projects and ensure they are properly used and protected. He also urged contractors to do quality work and deliver on time, stressing that the government will not accept poor standards.
The Deputy Governor assured the people that the government will continue to give priority to education and ensure that the project brings real improvement to schools across the State.
Ealier, In his remarks, the Kogi State Coordinator of the AGILE Project, Comrade Abdullahi Tijani Oricha, described the flag-off as a strong demonstration of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s commitment to improving education and investing in the future of young people. He said the renovation of 728 schools is a major step toward providing better learning environments, restoring dignity to public schools, and bringing renewed hope to communities across the State.
He added that the project will positively impact thousands of students and teachers by improving safety, boosting school attendance, and enhancing teaching conditions. He assured that, every kobo invested must deliver value, every structure must meet standard, and every community must feel the impact.
The event marked the official starting of one of the transformative imprint of the administration of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, on the education sector. This laudable projects, when completed, will restore confidence in public schools, improve learning conditions, and create opportunities for thousands of young people across the twenty one local government areas of the state.
Unubi Emmanuel
Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor,
Kogi State
April 2, 2026
