Hon. Umar Yahaya ‘Connect’, has launched a ₦6 million educational empowerment programme in Omala Local Government Area of Kogi State, with a ₦1 million scholarship for the highest JAMB scorer in the area in 2026 and financial support for 100 other students.
Hon. Yahaya, who represents Omala State Constituency in the Kogi State House of Assembly, said the initiative was aimed at easing the financial burden on students and their families, rewarding academic excellence and improving access to learning materials in schools across the local government.
Under the programme, ₦5 million will be shared among 100 students from public and private schools, with each beneficiary receiving ₦50,000. Another ₦1 million has been set aside as a scholarship for the highest-scoring candidate from Omala in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The programme also includes the distribution of educational materials to schools across Omala’s 11 wards.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, the Kogi State Commissioner for Education, Hon. Wemi Jones, who represented Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, commended the lawmaker for investing in the education of young people in his constituency.
Hon. Jones said the initiative complemented the state government’s efforts to improve education and demonstrated the importance of cooperation between elected representatives and government institutions.
He particularly praised the distribution of notebooks, recommended Mathematics and English textbooks, school bags and other writing materials, noting that such support could help students concentrate on their studies without placing additional pressure on their parents.
The commissioner also welcomed the scholarship and cash awards, describing support for academically outstanding students as an important way to encourage hard work and healthy competition among young people.
He urged other political leaders and stakeholders to support programmes that would give children better opportunities to succeed in school.
Hon. Jones used the occasion to highlight the Ododo administration’s education policies, including free education and the payment of external examination fees for students in public schools.
He also disclosed that the state government had committed 30 per cent of its annual budget to the education sector, stressing that sustained investment was necessary to improve learning outcomes and strengthen the state’s public universities.
The commissioner called on residents of Omala and other parts of Kogi East to support government policies and initiatives designed to expand access to education and promote development.
In a related development, Yahaya led the commissioner on an inspection tour of Government Secondary School, Abejukolo, to assess its infrastructure and the general learning environment.
The visit provided an opportunity to examine the school’s existing facilities and identify areas requiring attention as part of efforts to improve educational infrastructure in the state.
Speaking during the inspection, Hon. Jones reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to revitalising the education sector and providing a more conducive environment for teaching and learning.
He said improving school facilities remained important to ensuring that teachers could perform effectively and students had the conditions needed to learn and achieve better academic results.
The inspection also highlighted the need for continued engagement between government officials and constituency representatives in identifying challenges facing schools and pursuing practical solutions.
In his remarks, Hon. Yahaya expressed appreciation to the Commissioner for honouring the invitation and attending the event, describing his presence as a demonstration of the state government’s interest in educational development in Omala.
The lawmaker commended the commissioner for his efforts to strengthen the education sector and stressed the need for continued collaboration between the government and elected representatives to address the needs of students and schools.
He also thanked the Executive Chairman of Omala Local Government Area, Hon. Mark Edibo Ameh; the Commissioner for Transportation, Hon. Atuluku Lavi; and the former Executive Chairman of Omala, Hon. Ibrahim Yakub Aboh, for their support.
Others acknowledged by the lawmaker included the former Nigerian Ambassador to Botswana, Hon. Isaac Onu, and the Chairman of the Omala Traditional Council, His Royal Majesty, Chief Boniface Musa.
Hon. Yahaya equally appreciated the political leaders, party executives and other stakeholders who attended the ceremony and contributed to its success.
The educational empowerment programme is expected to provide immediate financial relief to selected students while encouraging academic excellence and extending support to schools across the 11 wards of Omala Local Government Area.
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