The senator representing the good people of Kogi Central Senatorial District at the Upper Chamber, Distinguished Senator Yakubu Oseni has performed beyond imagination and therefore deserves some accolades for a job well-done during the past three and a half years at the Senate. He has demonstrated leadership capacity, zeal and a political will to deliver in critical developmental sectors of our socio-economic lives. In all of these, he has refused to blow his trumpet in the media with his usual slogan, “God will reward him for his effort to uplift our people.” This is why I have decided to highlight few of his monumental achievements during his time in the Senate.
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
The world has become a global village through instant communication courtesy of internet. Senator Oseni who understands how technology has metamorphosed educational development, also keyed in and availed our young ones with the rare opportunities to be acquainted with modern technology that would aid them in both their academic pursuit and career development respectively. In actualizing this all-important aspect of uptodate educational development, the distinguished senator Yakubu Oseni has funded the following projects in most of the secondary schools in Kogi Central. These include: The 600-seat Governor Yahaya Bello JAMB Computer Based Test Center was established by Senator Oseni and is situated on Agassa-Upogoro Road in Okene Local Government Area. The tireless lawmaker additionally built the 40-seat community Digital Center (ICT HUB), which is situated at Ebira Community Secondary School in Ogaminana, Adavi Local Government Area.
As a matter of fact, I was flabbergasted when I discovered that the senator has also built a well-equipped E-learning centers across secondary schools in Kogi Central Senatorial district including Idah Secondary Commercial College, Idah, Darul Salam Nursery & Primary School, Isanlu Yagba East and Nigeria Union of Journalist Secretariat, Lokoja in Kogi West and Kogi East Senatorial Districts respectively equally benefitted from the magnanimous people’s senator, Yakubu Oseni. This is the first of its kind in the zone and I commend the senator for a job well-done. This is especially when you realized that in each of the E-learning center he built he has the following modern tools for our students: 20 sets of All-in-One desktop computers, 20 sets of cutting-edge workstations, 2 industrial fans, 4.5 KVA key starting generator, 1 set of projector with magnetic board, 1 industrial photocopy machine and printer, 1 scanner, 2 split air conditioning, 1 set of industrial fans, 1 set of fans, 1 set of modern workstations, the installation of a converter and eight German Giant batteries, a trio consisting of a server, a dish, and a router for network supply.
Moreover, in his usual act of benevolence, the Senator representing the good people of Kogi Central at the Upper Chamber in his effort to making maximum support to the educational development of our young ones, he has also donated 100 Computer laptops to 20 different schools in the senatorial zone. We all know the imperative nature of laptop to our day-to-day activities in today’s world and how crucial it is to learning and development to young ones. The following schools benefitted from this foresightedness of the distinguished senator: Government Day Secondary School, Anyava, Government Girls Secondary School, Otutu. LGEA FSP Secondary School, Inike, LGEA Demonstration Standard Secondary School, Onyukoko, Local Government Secondary School, Upogoro. College of Arabic and Islamic Studies (CAISSO), Lenon Memorial Secondary School, Ageva, Okehi Community Science Secondary School, Eika Ohizenyi, Ihima Community Science Secondary School, Obeiba, Community Secondary School, Obangede, Government Secondary School, Ebiya, Government Science Secondary School, Adogo, Comprehensive Secondary School, Ajaokuta. Community Comprehensive High School, Ogori, Magongo Community Secondary School, Magongo, Community Secondary School, Adavi-Eba, Local Government Science Secondary School, Ozuri, Government Day Secondary School, Inoziomi, Local Government Science Secondary School, Nagazi-Eba and Local Government Science Secondary School, Enyidudu.
EDUCATIONAL INTERVENTION & SKILL ACQUISITION PROGRAMMES
As a conscious lover of human capital development through educational infrastructure, he has done so much to improve the condition of our students’ learning environment in order to create a harmonious atmosphere that would in turn make learning process for our students and teachers a seamless stress-free one.
Distinguished Senator Yakubu has done the renovation and constructions of our school classrooms in all the local government areas across the central senatorial district. These projects include:
Senator Yakubu Oseni has built a block of two classrooms that are completely furnished with contemporary study tools at Community Secondary School, Kuroko. Two classes in a block at the Local Government Education Authority (LGEA) Primary School, Enyidudu, Adavi Local Government Area, have been renovated by distinguished Senator Oseni. 2 classes in a block at LGEA Primary School in Karaworo, Adavi Local Government Area, are being renovated. Building of a two-classroom block at the Government Science Secondary School in Adogo, Ajaokuta LGA. Building of a two-classroom building at the LGEA AUD Primary School in the Okehi LGA’s Obeiba Ihima. Erecting of a two-classroom building at LGEA Primary School in Upogoro. At Etahi Community Secondary School, a block of four classes has been built and furnished with contemporary study aids. At the Local Government Secondary School in Upogoro, Phase I involved renovating and outfitting a block of four classes with modern study aids. At the Local Government Secondary School in Upogoro, Phase II involved renovations and the furnishing of two exam rooms with current study materials. Local Government Secondary School, Upogoro, Phase III renovation and furnishing of a block of three classrooms and administrative office with current instructional aids. A block of four classes at Local Government Secondary School, Agassa, all in Okene LGA, were renovated and furnished with current educational aids.
To support students’ learning, schools were equally given educational materials, textbooks, and notebooks. For young people who are eager to learn hands-on skills, Senator Oseni has built skill acquisition centres throughout the Kogi Central Senatorial District, each of which is outfitted with a backup generator. Each centre has six studio rooms for various skill sets, such as producing soap and other detergents, tailoring, vulcanizing, hair dressing, hair barbering, and carpentry.
In addition to the skill-acquisition facilities that the worthy Senator Yakubu constructed to aid the youth and women in the zone, he also made contributions to the education and empowerment of our youth, women, and small-time traders in the area. This will allow them to commence their chosen trades with the training and initial capital they need. The senator also gave out 50 motorcycles, 100 industrial tailoring tools, and 105 tricycles (keke-NAPEP) to young people throughout Kogi Central as part of these training and empowerment initiatives. Additionally, Senator Oseni provided for the training of instructors in Kogi Central in ICT and provided them with an IPAD, instructional materials, and a cash grant to help them out. In keeping with this, the senator made sure that 1,300 women and young people received instruction in ICT-computer and phone repair, completing the process. and equipped with an IPAD, repair equipment, and financial support.
The training of 2,000 farmers throughout the Kogi Central, which ties all the stages together, is one of the most fascinating aspects. They were also given a cash grant, 150 women received instruction in catering services, and they were given a microwave, a mixer, and a grant of money. The senator was also interested in teaching 150 young people to make shoes, and he gave them funding and a filling machine to help them get started. He did prioritize the financial empowerment of 3,250 market women in Kogi Central and bring all the stages together. The senator made personal visits to 10 key markets in Kogi Central to provide cash grants to the small business owners. Adogo, Ogori, Magongo, Okene Central, Ohu-manaka, Ihimi, Adavi-Eba, Ogaminana, Abobo, and Upogogoro markets were amongst those that benefited from this laudable initiative from our distinguished Senator.
PROJECT FOR THE SUPPLY OF WATER
Water is at the centre of economic and social development; it is vital to maintain health, grow food, manage the environment, and create jobs. Despite water’s importance, globally, 2 billion people lack access to safely managed drinking water and 3.6 billion people lack access to safely managed sanitation – World Bank
This is why in his quest to bringing succor and make life easy for the people of his constituent, Senator Yakubu Oseni has provided water in the following areas of the Kogi Central Senatorial District. These include: Provision of water scheme channel from Ahache community, Uruvoba Community to Okene-Eba Community. He has also ensured provision of motorized borehole in the followimg communities across the district. Namely: Nagazi – Uvete, Anyioke, Iruvochinomi, Okuhagho-by kabba junction, Utobobo, Obeiba, Usungwe Community, Ileteju ward Ogori, beside Late chief Alao’s resident, magongo, Flood Estate Gadumo Ajaokuta Township, Wada Flood Estate, Gadumo community, Omgbo/Unosi (Beside Aghali’s residence), Central market, (Ohu Bariki), Enyinare community, Idogido Otutu ward, Inike community, Agassa GRA, Enyinare-Ahache Road, PA Ohiare’s compound, Obehira Uvete community, Tauru Ohi-Ovisa area Obehira Eba, Makaranta area, Abuga Ozuja, Idochi community, Otutu ward, Osochi okodo 1, Behind Okene stadium Idoji, Ozuwaya, Along Nasoso Road, Lafia, Beside onyisa compound, Ori-Etesu ward, Behind Danga compound, idozumi-Ahache Inanaka community, and Inanaka community, Agassa. These are verifiable water projects that all lovers of good things should be proud of.
STREET PROJECT
In his capacity as the senator who represents the good people of Kogi central in the Upper Chamber, Senator Oseni has completed the following road projects in an effort to add to all facets of the Kogi Central Economy. A 300-meter asphalt road with drainage was built in the Karaworo community of the Adavi Local Government Area. In Okene Local Government Area, the senator built a 1-kilometer feudal road with drainage systems and spans that leads to Anyava Government Secondary School. Agassa GRA road is presently being asphalted by the esteemed Senator Oseni. The hardworking Senator has also contributed the following projects to the good people of Kogi Central. These include amongst others:
Construction of public toilets (2 Toilets and Bathrooms) at Enyidudu Ccommunity in Adavi Local Government Area.
Supply and installation of 33KVA transformer at Apamsede village, Adavi Local Government Area.
Renovation of Ihima Comprehensive Hospital, Okehi Local Government Area.
Construction of community town hall, Ebogogo (On-going), Adavi Local Government Area.
Construction of bridge to Inorere community (On-going), in Adavi Local Government Area.
Construction of offices for Executive of Okene central market (On-going), Okene Local Government Area.
Construction of mini market for Upogoro community, (On-going), Okene Local Government Area.
The senator has delved into almost every facet of our lives and has performed excellently well for the good people of Kogi central. He has represented the zone maximally and would always be an asset to our people.
BILL SPONSORED
The body language of distinguished Senator Oseni has always supported education in its entirety. This is why he has done so much in areas of educational development during his time so far in the senate. The senator representing the good people of Kogi Central at the red chamber has sponsored the following bills which have been passed by the senate and become law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria while some of them are awaiting the President’s assent. These bills include:
Bill seeking establishment of Steel University, Ajaokuta. This bill is currently awaiting Presidential assent.
Bill seeking establishment of Institute of Computer Forensic of Nigeria. This has been passed by the Senate
Bill seeking conversion of College of Education, Okene to University of Education. This Bill is awaiting Presidential assent.
Bill seeking establishment of Solid Mineral Producing Area Development Commission. This crucial bill is awaiting presidential assent.
Bill seeking establishment of Solid Mineral Development Bank. This bill been passed by the Senate and
Bill seeking establishment of National Centre for Cancer and Treatment. This is waiting its third reading in the senate
When most of these bills are operational and give assent by Mr. President, they will not only bring development to our people, they will equally leapfrog our district into a mega developed city. Kudos to our distinguished senator.
In conclusion, is empirical and conspicuous for all to see that Senator Oseni is passionate about his constituent. He has delivered beyond our expectations and I am convinced without any iota of doubt that if given the opportunity to serve on a larger scale as chief executive of Kogi State, he would perform wonders. I want to therefore, call on his excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello to look at the record-breaking Senator’s work and consider him as the next governor of Kogi State. It is obvious that his experience as a Senator of the Federal Republic has given him an edge to succeed where others will be learning.
God bless Ebiraland.
Alhaji Jemil Usman (The Young Alhaji) is a public affairs analyst, writes from Abuja, Nigeria.