A media publisher and education advocate, Prince Bolarin Friday Ogungbemi, has called on the Kogi State Government to urgently address what he described as major shortcomings in the state’s education sector, including the shortage of teachers, employment freeze, and policies affecting public and private schools.
Speaking at a press conference in Lokoja on Tuesday, Ogungbemi, who is the Publisher of The Policy and Lawmakers Magazine, appealed to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo to review existing education policies and prioritize the recruitment of qualified teachers to improve learning outcomes across the state.
He lamented that Kogi State had not conducted any significant recruitment of teachers for nearly a decade despite the growing manpower deficit in public schools.
According to him, the shortage of teaching staff has negatively impacted the quality of education in both primary and secondary schools, noting that many experienced teachers have retired or died in service without adequate replacement.
Ogungbemi recalled that the Kogi State Science, Technical Education and Teaching Service Commission had in 2022 identified a need for about 9,979 additional teachers.
Although approval was reportedly granted for the recruitment of 3,979 teachers under the previous administration, he said only 1,108 were eventually employed, while about 200 later resigned due to poor working conditions.
He appealed to Governor Ododo to recruit the outstanding 2,871 teachers earlier approved by the immediate past administration, arguing that the education sector currently faces a deficit of nearly 10,000 teachers.
The publisher also described the situation in primary schools as more critical, claiming that several schools were on the verge of closure because of inadequate teaching personnel.
He noted that the last major recruitment exercise for primary school teachers was conducted in 2014 and urged the government to lift the employment ban at both the state and local government levels.
On the recent abduction of the principal, examination officials and students at Government Secondary School, Olowa, in Dekina Local Government Area during the 2026 NECO examinations, Ogungbemi commended security agencies for rescuing the victims but criticized the state government’s description of the school as a “miracle centre.”
He referenced the National Examinations Council (NECO)’s statement which maintained that Government Secondary School, Olowa, is a legitimate public school established by the Kogi State Government and has consistently presented candidates for NECO examinations since 2000.
Ogungbemi said NECO’s clarification contradicted claims that the school was operating as an illegal examination centre, adding that the council confirmed the abducted candidates were duly registered students.
He urged public officials to verify facts before making statements capable of damaging the reputation of educational institutions.
The publisher also faulted the state government’s continued ban on graduation ceremonies for Nursery, Primary Six and Junior Secondary School students, describing the policy as one that disproportionately affects private schools.
He argued that while the government justified the ban as a measure to prevent financial exploitation of parents, private schools and their students were still required to pay for various compulsory examinations and educational activities without benefiting from government-sponsored initiatives available to public schools.
Ogungbemi maintained that students in private schools were excluded from government-sponsored examination support despite their parents contributing through taxes and other statutory payments.
He urged Governor Ododo to review the policy and ensure fairness in the treatment of both public and private schools.
The publisher concluded by appealing to the governor to revisit critical issues affecting the education sector, particularly teacher recruitment, improved manpower, and policies aimed at making quality education more accessible and affordable for all residents of Kogi State.
