Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has said that his administration’s top priorities remain the education and welfare of orphans and less privileged children.
The governor, who stated this during the flag-off ceremony of the Governor Ododo Orphan Students Care (GOOS-Care) initiative, organised by the Kogi State Forum of Local Government Special Assistants in Lokoja, emphasised that no child in the state should feel abandoned or forgotten as a result of death or financial condition of their parents or guardians.
“You are not orphans as far as we have God Almighty,” the governor said, urging the benefiting students to believe in themselves and avoid tendencies to succumb to emotional setbacks.
Governor Ododo commended the Forum of Local Government Special Assistants for their proactive efforts. He described the initiative as a testament to the success of his administration’s policy of taking governance to the grassroots.
“What you are doing here today shows we never made any mistake in our decisions because this government is for the people,” he stated.
The governor emphasised that his administration is focused on collective responsibility in governance, stressing that leaders should always prioritise service to the people.
Speaking further, Governor Ododo assured the forum of LSAs of his administration’s commitment to addressing issues related to outstanding appointments within the ranks of grassroots supporters of the government.
He enjoined forum members and benefiting students to remain steadfast, emphasising that their efforts today would shape a brighter tomorrow.
“What we are doing now may not be fully appreciated today, but its value will be evident in the future,” he said.
Also, the auditor general for local government in Kogi State, Yakubu Siyaka Adabenege, lauded the forum’s efforts in bridging the gap between the government and the people at the grassroots.
He charged the beneficiaries to take advantage of the programme and use the resources provided for them wisely. He stressed the need to sustain the programme to enhance education and grassroots engagement. He described the initiative as a critical tool for fostering collective progress and lasting impact in the state.
Earlier, the forum chairman, Jafar Kamarudeen, expressed profound gratitude to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for his visionary leadership and commitment to uplifting lives, assuring that the programme would be sustained to benefit orphans in the state.
