By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State has been honoured as one of Nigeria’s 16 Education Ambassadors, earning national recognition for his transformative reforms and commitment to human capital development.
The honour, conferred by the Daily Independent Newspaper, featured Governor Ododo on its October 9 front cover alongside other eminent Nigerians celebrated for their impact on education and national development.
Reacting to the recognition, the Governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Ismaila Isah, described the award as “a resounding acknowledgment of Governor Ododo’s visionary leadership and the sweeping changes transforming education in Kogi State.”
According to Isah, the Governor’s inclusion among the honourees reflects the results of an inclusive education policy that has boosted access, modernised infrastructure, and elevated teaching standards across the state.
Under Ododo’s administration, Kogi has witnessed increased education funding, construction and rehabilitation of classroom blocks and science laboratories, and major infrastructure upgrades in the state’s three universities and other tertiary institutions.
The administration has also introduced payment of exit examination fees (UTME, SSCE, NECO, NBTE, and Common Entrance), scholarships and bursary awards for undergraduates, and conditional cash transfers for girls in secondary schools — initiatives aimed at reducing dropout rates and empowering young learners.
“Governor Ododo has made education the cornerstone of Kogi’s development vision,” Isah said. “From better funding to teachers’ welfare, his reforms are reshaping classrooms and inspiring new confidence in public education.”
He also recalled that the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) recently conferred on the Governor the Golden Award of Excellence for Education and Teachers’ Friendliness — a testament to his unwavering support for educators.
Governor Ododo, Isah added, believes that education remains the most sustainable investment in the future of Kogi State and Nigeria at large, assuring that the administration will continue to deepen reforms, expand access, and drive innovation through skills development.
The Daily Independent Education Ambassadors feature also paid tribute to Nigeria’s historic education icons, including Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and Sir Ahmadu Bello, who were honoured posthumously for their pioneering roles in shaping the nation’s learning legacy.