CUSTECH Rises as Kogi’s Beacon of Hope

CUSTECH Rises as Kogi’s Beacon of Hope

By Ummikurthum Onize Abdullahi
GOM-V

In the heart of Nigeria, where two great rivers meet, a new current of hope is flowing. The Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara, is more than just an institution of learning; it is a living testament to a dream many once thought was a distant star in a cloudy sky. Its first convocation ceremony on November 27, 2025, was not merely a graduation; it was the culmination of faith, vision, and an unbroken chain of governance.

The university began as a bold vision. His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, CON, the former Governor of Kogi State, dreamt of a future where the state’s youth would have unhindered access to quality science and technology education. He pursued that dream with uncommon courage, planting a seed that many doubted would grow.

That seed, however, did not wither. It was watered by a philosophy of continuity. Under the leadership of His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, the dream did not just stand—it soared. “We inherited that dream, and by the grace of God, we are flying with it,” Governor Ododo declared, transforming the blueprint into a formidable citadel of learning.

Today, the campus is a model of beauty, security, and functionality. A completed internal road network snakes through the grounds, connecting ambition to achievement. Academic structures like the Computing and Informatics Building stand tall, while the 350-capacity hostels provide comfortable homes for scholars. With a secured perimeter, surveillance cameras, and trained personnel, the university is a sanctuary where the only battle a student should fight is for knowledge.

CUSTECH was conceived as a strategic answer to a critical question: How does a state prepare its youth for the modern economy?

Kogi State is fast emerging as an industrial hub, hosting Africa’s largest cement factory and witnessing the revival of the Ajaokuta Steel Company. To sustain this growth, the state needs its own engineers, scientists, and innovators.

“CUSTECH is a strategic response to the rising demand for skilled professionals to drive our industrial growth,” Governor Ododo stated. The university is equipping students not just to find jobs, but to create them. Through cutting-edge programmes in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, and Agricultural Technology, CUSTECH is producing graduates ready to lead in the global digital economy and make Kogi the food hub of Nigeria.

A landmark achievement in this mission is the successful accreditation of the MBBS programme, supported by the world-class CUSTECH Teaching Hospital in Okene, raising a new generation of medical practitioners.

The path to this glory was not without its shadows. The university faced a profound tragedy when students were abducted, a moment that threatened to eclipse the dream itself.

Governor Ododo paid heartfelt tribute to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his decisive intervention.

“You mobilized the entire security architecture of the nation to ensure their safe return… Without your intervention, we might have been mourning instead of rejoicing today.”

While most students were rescued, the community mourned the loss of two beloved students. “We honour their memory,” the Governor said, their sacrifice becoming a solemn reminder of the sacred duty to protect the young.

To the graduating students, the stars of the day, Governor Ododo offered both a challenge and a reward.

“Your certificates are not just paper; they are licences to serve humanity, tools to build society, and instruments to lead with integrity.”

In a powerful demonstration of the state’s commitment to excellence, he announced automatic employment for the best-graduating student in each faculty, ensuring that top talent is planted back into Kogi’s soil to bear more fruit.

The ceremony was a celebration of collective resolve—a partnership between the government, the National Universities Commission (NUC), TETFund, the university management, parents, and the host community.

Governor Ododo concluded with a forward-looking charge: “Let us continue to work together to make CUSTECH a true centre of excellence for Kogi, Nigeria, and Africa. May this convocation mark the beginning of greater things to come.”

What began as a single vision has now become a powerful confluence of countless hopes, proving that in Kogi State, education is the undeniable currency of progress.