The Vice Chancellor of the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara Engr. Prof. Salawu Sadiku on Wednesday hosted the Ohi of Okene, HRH Alh. Isah Mamman Okatahi.
According to Balogun Omeiza David, Head, Public Relations Unit, CUSTECH, Osara, said other Management Staff who joined the Vice Chancellor in welcoming the Royal Father were: the Bursar, Mr. John Alaji, the Director, Works and Maintenance, Arc. Usman M. Ahmed, the Director, Works and Physical Planning, Bldr Ismail Adoke and the Director, Academic Planning, Pharm. Muhammed Asuku Audu.
The Vice Chancellor who welcome the Ohi of Okene, described the royal father as a childhood friend of his, but however lamented the demise of late Dr. Salihu Abdulrahaman who he also described as one of them that death suddenly took away some days back.
Speaking shortly after he asked for a minute silence to honour the Late Dr Salihu Abdulrahman, the Vice Chancellor thanked the Ohi of Okene for living the comfort of his Palace to come and see the level of progress been made at CUSTECH, Osara Campus.
He pointed out that the success the university is recording gradually is as a result of the attention given to the institution by His Excellency, Alh. (Dr) Yahaya Bello (CON), the Executive Governor of Kogi State.
The VC also gave accolades to the Management as a group of persons who are progressive in nature and also more ambitious than him.
“Aside CUSTECH having the shortest gestation period, the university is also the quickest to have a younger sister upon the recent establishment of the Kogi State University (KSU), Kabba.” Prof. Sadiku stated.
He also appreciated the Royal Father for coming at a time when CUSTECH is still swimming in the euphoria of the additional eleven (11) Programmes added to the already existing nineteen (19) running Programmes by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
Speaking further , the well academically groomed Structural Engineer serving as the Vice Chancellor of CUSTECH, Osara opined that, “It is always a thing of joy when Royal fathers pay visit to a place. Royal Fathers are more closer to the government and they can help to chip in one or two words that can help an academic institution to curry favour from the government. Their visit also in a way serves as a means of protection for the university environment.”
Responding, the Ohi of Okene, HRH Alh. Isah Mamman Okatahi gave thanks to God Almighty who made today a special one that he set aside to visit the fast growing institution known as CUSTECH, Osara.
He said, “Engr. Prof. Salawu Sadiku is a childhood friend of mine and I am glad that he was able to make an academic record then when we the Central and Western parts of Kogi were with Kwara State.
The Royal Father adorned in a beautiful regalia said, “We do go about other activities as at then as students to the point of going to parties to dance disco but Engr. Prof. Salawu Sadiku was always married to his books and writing materials.
“He has been a bookworm right from the word go and I am proud that today, he has reached the peak of his academic carrier.”
The Ohi of Okene likened His Excellency, Alh. (Dr) Yahaya Bello (CON) the Executive Governor of Kogi State to the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, a man he described as knowing the total importance attached to education.
He said, “It is always a thing of joy for any community to have the presence of the university within their domain therefore, words are not enough to thank the Governor for establishing this ivory tower which has helped in no small measure to remedy the once hard to get admission issues faced by our wards.”
He praised the Governor saying, “Gov. Yahaya has succeeded in fulfilling the Ebira proverb which says, It is with three stones that the pot rest on to cook the food on fire.” We now have Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU) in the East, The Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH) in the Central and now the Kogi State University (KSU) in the West. He is a political figure that is just, fair, caring and totally ready to see that Kogi State levels up with other advanced states within the country of which education is one key tool that can help us achieve this fastly.”
The Royal Father thanked the Management team of CUSTECH, Osara for standing strongly behind the Vice Chancellor like the Rock of Gibraltar adding that it is good to seeing them together doing the job they are saddled with as a team who are progressive minded and not ready to work at a snail speed but moving fastly as possible.
HRH Alh. Isah Mamman Okatahi submitted that, “I am going back home to tell my people that the Management Team at CUSTECH, Osara is a perfect definition of the expression revolving around putting a round peg in a round hole. I am proud of them and my prayer for them all is that God Almighty will bless their children as he who helps one to climb the mountain is also climbing the mountain. They have helped the Governor to see his dream of establishing an ivory tower in the Central come to pass and all of them will surely receive the blessings of God from above.”
The Vice Chancellor Engr. Prof. Salawu Sadiku presented the university’s souvenir bags to the Ohi of Okene after which a group photograph was taken by all the Management Team and the entourage of the Royal Father.
The journey to see the ongoing projects within CUSTECH, Osara Campus was next and the Vice Chancellor alongside the Management Staff went with him in the institution’s Coaster Bus round the ring road housing all the ongoing projects.
