Family Commends Kogi Polytechnic for Honouring Late Professor Mathew Ajibero
By Yahaya Idris, Lokoja
The immediate family of the late former Rector of Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, Professor Matthew Idowu Ajibero, has expressed appreciation to the Rector and Management of the institution for naming the Polytechnic Library in honor of the erudite scholar.
A statement by Uredo Omale, Director of Public Relations and Protocol at Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, revealed that the family, led by Mrs. Grace Ajibero, the wife of the late sage, paid a courtesy visit to the institution on Thursday, 28th November, 2024, as a gesture of appreciation for the immortalisation of their patriarch.
Mrs. Ajibero noted that the recognition was a testament to late Professor Ajibero’s relentless commitment and selfless service to the institution, and expressed profound appreciation to the Polytechnic Management for recognizing his contributions.
She specifically commended Professor Salisu Ogbo Usman, the Rector, for his exceptional accomplishments and dedication to the Polytechnic, and appreciated his efforts in sustaining the institution’s elevated image and standard.
She prayed for God’s continued support to guide the institution’s leaders.
Professor Ogbo Usman, the Rector, stated that the Polytechnic’s Library was named after Professor Ajibero based on the unanimous decision of the Governing Council of the Polytechnic at its 70th Regular meeting held on 4th January, 2024.
He pointed out that other former Rectors who have other structures named after them by Council during the meeting were Dr. Ismaila Isa and Mr. J. Obajimoh.
He emphasized that while the Mechatronics building was named in honor of the late Dr. Ismaila Isa, the 500-seat capacity lecture theatre was named after the late Mr. J. Obajimoh.
According to him, the immortalisation of the three former Rectors by the Council was a recognition of their substantial contributions to the institution’s expansion and progress.
He applauded their visionary leadership and commitment to academic excellence, which has had a lasting impact on the Polytechnic.
He particularly made reference to the stewardship of the late Professor Ajibero, who he said was instrumental in introducing the Department of Library and Information Science and building the Library Complex.
He also commended him for introducing Mechatronics Engineering, which was inherited and successfully reactivated through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Space Research and Development Authority (NASRDA), along with other infrastructure developments in the Lokoja and Itakpe campuses
“Prof. Ajibero made immense contributions, and the least we can do to show our appreciation is to honour him by naming the Library Complex after him,” he stressed.
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Prof. Usman expressed his gratitude to Mrs. Grace Ajibero for her unshakeable support and dedication, while reaffirming the Management’s commitment to building a stronger partnership with the Ajibero family.
In his vote of thanks, the Deputy Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr. Samuel Taiwo Olowo, appreciated Mrs. Grace Ajibero and her family for their visit and encouragement of the institution’s uplift, and reassured them that the Management, under Professor Usman, would continue to appreciate hard work and valuable interventions of those who support the Polytechnic’s advancement.Food security: World Bank approves Kogi as Livestock Service Center
The visit’s highlight was the ceremonial exchange of souvenirs between the Rector and Mrs. Grace Ajibero, symbolizing the family’s lasting connection to the Polytechnic.
The Rector and Deputy Rector were joined by Mrs. Ozohu Omolola Mohammed Audu, Polytechnic Librarian, and Dr. Joel Akowe, Director of Academic Planning, in receiving the Ajibero family.
