TheCable

A group known as Apapo Omo Yagba Leadership Committee has pleaded with Yahaya Bello, governor of Kogi, to consider citing the proposed Okunland University in their constituency.

Yagba federal constituency is located in Okun land, predominantly in Kogi west senatorial district.

Last month, Bello approved the establishment of a university in the district.

According to Wemi Jones, the state’s commissioner for education, the process would involve the inauguration of a 15-man implementation committee to draft the university law, academic brief and master plan.

The commissioner added that the committee would also be saddled with recommending a suitable location for the higher institution of learning.

Making a case to be the host community for the planned university, the Yagba leadership committee said other institutions in the senatorial district are “relatively far” from the area.

In a letter to the governor, signed by Funmi Abiodun and Sola Enikaolaiye, committee coordinators, the group said Yagba is the only federal constituency “in Okun land without any higher institution”.

The committee promised that if Yagba is chosen as the host of the proposed university, the community will “fully cooperate to ensure the seamless take-off of the institution”.

“As a governor that believes in even distribution of developmental institutions and amenities, we, the entire people of Yagbaland, want to plead with you to consider the citing of this university on our land because, as a federal constituency, we are the only one in Okun land without any higher institution, either state or federal,” the letter reads.

“Without prejudice to our brothers and sisters in Kabba Bunu/ljumu federal constituency, it is only fair and just to consider Yagba federal constituency for this new institution of higher learning, particularly taking into consideration the following pertinent observations and factors.

“The Kabba Bunu/ljumu federal constituency is already playing host to a College of Agriculture of ABU Zaria. Kogi State College of Education (Technical) is in Kabba Bunu/ljumu federal constituency. The Nigerian Law School campus, as proposed by the senate, is to be sited in Kabba- Bunu/ljumu federal constituency.

“Kabba Bunu/ljumu federal constituency shares very close proximity to the Federal University in Lokoja, the state-owned Confluence University of Technology (CUSTECH), Osara and the Federal College of Education Okene.

“All of these institutions are relatively far from Yagbaland, which makes it imperative that the proposed university be sited on our soil as this will bring development closer to our people at the grassroots.

“We will like to assure you, sir, Your Excellency, that the Yagba people shall fully cooperate to ensure the seamless take-off of the university as we have the land, the take-off structure, and the enabling environment, both natural, human and security, to host the university.”