Where did Kogi state university, Anyigba get it all wrong?

By: Muhammad Umar Pharook

When you step up to be screened as a student in most universities in Nigeria, the mere mention of Kogi state as your state of origin raises quite a stare, I know that much because I have had to experience it firsthand and also close friends have equally attested to such. So naturally, it is wise to conclude that Kogites place huge premium of education and the hunger for university education drives them to all the corners of the country and beyond.

However, with recently published ranking of universities in Nigeria which placed the university of Ilorin way ahead all other universities in Nigeria in first place (and 20th in Africa) and shockingly Kogi state university at 111th position, just one above the least ranked university (i.e Akwa Ibom state university) in 112th place, is just too bitter a pill for any well meaning kogites to swallow, given the state’s pride of place in education in Northern Nigeria.

If there’s any lesson from this to be learned, one most question, where did it all go wrong for an institution that once stood tall in the confluence of Benue and the Niger as the envy of most state universities especially with regards to infrastructure. Did management of state infrastructure suddenly fell into wrong hands? A lot of questions are bound but, rather than focus attention on that alone, prompt actions should at the point be enforced to salvage what’s left of the dwindling fortunes of the pride of Kogi state.

Below a complete list of the ranking:

Unilorin of Ilorin located in Ilorin, Kwara State ranks first in Nigeria and 20th In Africa in the recently released Rankings For July 2014. 

See how other universities are ranked in Nigeria:

1  University of Ilorin –         Ilorin
2  University of Lagos – Lagos
3  Obafemi Awolowo University         Ile-Ife
4  University of Ibadan – Ibadan
5  Landmark University – Omu-Aran
6  Covenant University – Ota
7  Federal University of Technology, Minna Minna

8  University of Benin – Ugbowo 
9  University of Agriculture, Abeokuta      Abeokuta

10  University of Nigeria         Nsukka 
11  Madonna University Okija
12  Ahmadu Bello University Zaria
13  University of Port Harcourt Port Harcourt
14  Federal University of Technology, Akure Akure

15  Rivers State University of Science and Technology Port Harcourt

16  Bayero University Kano Kano
17  University of Jos         Jos
18  Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka 
19  Redeemer’s University         Mowe
20  University of Maiduguri Maiduguri
21  Ebonyi State University Abakaliki
22  Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti Ado-Ekiti
23  Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Ogbomoso 

24  Lagos State University Ojo
25  Joseph Ayo Babalola University Ikeji-Arakeji

26  Federal University, Oye-Ekiti Oye 
27  Kwara State University Ilorin
28  Veritas University Abuja
29  Federal University of Technology, Owerri Owerri

30  Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba Akoko 
31  University of Uyo Uyo
32  Pan African University         Lagos
33  Bingham University Auta Balifi
34  Federal University, Dutse Dutse
35  Osun State University         Oshogbo …
36  University of Calabar         Calabar
37  Umaru Musa Yar’Adua University       Katsina
38  Nasarawa State University Keffi
39  Federal University, Ndufu-Alike Ndufu-Alike

40  American University of Nigeria Yola
41  Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti
42  Baze University         Abuja
43  Lead City University         Ibadan
44  Tai Solarin University of Education Ijebu-Ode.

45  Federal University, Otuoke Otuoke
46  University of Agriculture, Makurdi Makurdi
47  Enugu State University of Science and Technology Enugu
48  Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma
49  Niger Delta University         Wilberforce Island Yenagoa

50  Renaissance University Enugu
51  Anambra State University Uli
52  Crawford University Faith City …
53  Kaduna State University Kaduna
54  Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effurun

55  Achievers University, Owo Owo
56  Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi
57  Delta State University, Abraka Abraka
58  Ajayi Crowther University Oyo Town
59  African University of Science and Technology Abuja

60  Benue State University Makurdi
61  Al-Hikmah University         Ilorin …
62  Olabisi Onabanjo University Ago Iwoye …
63  Caleb University         Imota
64  Nigerian Turkish Nile University Abuja
65  Paul University         Awka
66  Bells University of Technology Ota
67  Modibbo Adama University of Technology Yola

68  Adeleke University Ede
69  Igbinedion University Okada Okada …
70  Fountain University Oshogbo
71  Federal University, Lokoja Lokoja
72  Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Lapai

73  Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umuahia

74  Benson Idahosa University Benin City
75  Caritas University Enugu
76  Ondo State University of Science & Technology Okitipupa

77  Babcock University Ilishan-Remo …
78  Bowen University Iwo
79  University of Mkar Mkar
80  Kebbi State University of Science and Technology Aliero

81  Oduduwa University Ile Ife
82  Novena University Ogume
83  University of Abuja Abuja
84  Imo State University         Owerri
85  Obong University Obong Ntak
86  Usmanu Danfodio University Sokoto
87  Kano University of Science and Technology Wudil

88  Federal University, Kashere Kashere
89  Crescent University Abeokuta
90  Salem University         Lokoja
91  Abia State University         Uturu
92  Elizade University Ilara-Mokin
93  Western Delta University Oghara
94  Cross River University of Science & Technology Calabar.

95  Federal University, Dutsin-Ma Dutsin-Ma
96  Wellspring University Benin City
97  Wesley University of Science and Technology Ondo City

98  Adamawa State University Mubi
99  Gombe State University Gombe
100  Federal University, Wukari Wukari
101  Samuel Adegboyega University Ogwa
102  Yobe State University Damaturu
103  Federal University, Lafia Lafia
104  Bauchi State University Gadau …
105  Taraba State University Jalingo
106  Sokoto State University Sokoto
107  Kwararafa University Wukari Wukari
108  Tansian University Umunya …
109  Godfrey Okoye University Ugwuomu-Nike
110  Katsina University Katsina
111  Kogi State University Anyigba
112  Akwa Ibom State University Uyo
Source: 4icu.org (4 International Colleges and Universities) Rankings For July 2014. 

When I first shared the post, a couple of friend (and sadly enough, some from Kogi state university, Anyigba) mostly from Kogi state didn’t quite understand the implications of such ratings, rather they saw the uniqueness of the position (I.e Numberical Value of 111) as something worth celebrating because it felt they’ve accorded specialty. I would however not want to be like some friends from other states who felt such disheartening circumstance KSU would be greeted in a celebratory fashion worst still be its own Alumnus, might as well be concluded to have really painted the true picture of academia in the state.

But, for those who fail to see what this ranking meant, here is the really hard and painful truth to take from it, that Kogi state university seats at 111th position isn’t only the sad reality of the ratings, but also what it translates (for my friends and Alumnus of the institution) to is that, a certificate from the institution is 110th times least valuable to that of students from the University of Ilorin which aloft all others in Nigeria as at the July rating. Now that is some not worth rejoicing over, especially if you are from Kogi state. Something urgent and drastic needs to be done and done fast else, its only a matter of time before we knock Akwa Ibom state University off the bottom (God forbid).