The Kogi State Government has announced that it now records the lowest number of out-of-school children in Northern Nigeria a milestone attributed to strategic investments in education and healthcare.
This was disclosed by the Special Adviser on Media to the Governor, Hon. Ismaila Isah, during the 2025 Blueprint Impact Award Series held in Abuja. He represented Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, who was honoured as Governor of the year on Human Capital Development at the event.
Hon. Isah described the award as a recognition of the Ododo administration’s focused efforts in human capital development, particularly in the education and health sectors.
He revealed that the state government has spent over ₦1 billion on the payment of external examination fees for students in public primary and secondary schools within just over a year. This intervention, he noted, has led to a significant increase in school enrollment and retention rates, earning Kogi the distinction of having the lowest out-of-school rate in the northern region—based on verified national statistics.
“Kogi State under Governor Ododo has demonstrated that meaningful investment in people yields measurable results. This award is a testament to that fact,” Isah said.
He further disclosed that the administration is currently revitalizing over 300 primary healthcare centres across the 21 local government areas of the state—another key pillar of its human capital development agenda.
“The Governor remains committed to building a knowledge-based and healthy population. We are proud of the strides we have made so far, and this recognition by Blueprint affirms that we are on the right path,” he added.
The Blueprint impact Award Series is an annual event that honours individuals and institutions making significant contributions to national development, governance, and innovation.