How we tamed cultism, exam fraud in Kogi Poly – Rector

The Rector of Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, Professor Salisu Ogbo Usman, stated that the institution utilised the funds and resources available to it to combat cultism, exam fraud, and certificate racketeering within the institution.

Prof. Ogbo said he inherited a Polytechnic that was bedevilled by cultism, examination fraud, and certificate racketeering

Prof Ogbo disclosed this while addressing members of the Correspondents’ chapel during their Stewardship Forum in his office in Lokoja, on Tuesday.

The Rector said, “On assumption of office in 2020, I inherited a Polytechnic where students earned certificates from fraudulent syndicates who forged and sold our certificates to students.

“It was so bad that, after admission, students who are expected to sit down and learn preferred to patronise the syndicates to get the grade they desired.

In addition to that, student cultism was the order of the day. Meanwhile, I also faced lecturers who profited from producing books and made it compulsory for students to purchase them. Only those who buy the textbooks pass exams. If you don’t buy it, you won’t be able to take that particular course. That attitude alone contributed to the growth of cultism on campus.

“But I realised the problems of the school were security-related, so I made security the priority of the institution. I launched a decisive battle against cultism, realising that the entire state would be in trouble if we allowed cultism to thrive on the campuses.

“As I speak to you, we have successfully tamed cultism in our campuses by establishing a security system that made it difficult for our students to join a cult.