The JAGABAN/ODODO Students’ Mandate 2027, Kogi State Chapter, on Tuesday officially launched its Campus Ambassadors Initiative, aimed at deepening civic engagement and political participation among students.
The launch, which held at Children Amusement Park,Lokoja, brought together student leaders and representatives from the twelve tertiary institutions in the state.
Welcoming guests, the Coordinator Jagaban/Ododo Students Mandate 2027,Comrade Usman Ibrahimnyass Dende, described the event as historic and a new chapter in the collective resolve to engage students on critical issues.
According to him, “Today marks a new chapter in our collective resolve to deepen civic engagement among students across tertiary institutions in Kogi State. We have brought together vibrant, committed and credible student representatives who will serve as Campus Ambassadors,” Yunusa said.
He explained that the initiative will establish a structured campus network through which ambassadors will organise intellectual discussions, civic engagement programmes and sensitisation on government programmes and their impact on youths.
Comrade Dende highlighted laudable initiatives of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to include the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which has benefited over 1.5 million students with over N282 billion disbursed as of May 2026; sustained TETFund investment in infrastructure with N3.52 trillion earmarked for education in the 2026 budget; and the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme.
He also listed over 2,700 kilometres of highways under construction including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road, revitalisation of primary healthcare centres, agricultural interventions, and economic reforms that led to 4.43% GDP growth in Q2 2026.
At the state level, Comrade Dende commended Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for maintaining about 30% budgetary allocation to education, sustaining free education in public primary and secondary schools, payment of examination fees and scholarship support.
He cited ongoing infrastructure at Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara and Kogi State University, Kabba, revitalisation of over 80 Primary Healthcare Centres, 18 ongoing road projects in Kogi East, as well as landmark projects like the Kogi Cargo Airport at Kabba Junction and the Lokoja International Market.
He added that thousands of farmers have benefited from ACReSAL while security has been strengthened with the Violent Crime Response Unit commissioned in June 2026, noting that the administration is building on the foundation laid by former Governor Yahaya Bello.
Charging the ambassadors, Dende urged them to be worthy representatives, engage positively and communicate government programmes objectively while projecting genuine student concerns.
Present at the event were, Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Monday Aridaojo Anyebe, Special Adviser on Youth and Students Matters, Hon. Oladele John Nihi, Senior Special Assistants on Students Affairs led by Hon. Emmanuel Ojodunwene Mario
