KOGI AT 35: A JOURNEY OF RESILIENCE, PROGRESS AND SHARED DESTINY

Mukadam Asiwaju Asiru Idris Celebrates Confluence State, Salutes Founding Fathers, Calls for Renewed Unity and Greater Prosperity

As Kogi State marks the 35th anniversary of its creation today, August 27, 2026, the people of the Confluence State have another opportunity to reflect on a remarkable journey of history, resilience, enterprise and collective aspiration.

On this significant occasion, I warmly felicitate with His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, the Deputy Governor, members of the State Executive Council, the State House of Assembly, traditional institutions, public servants, organised private sector, religious leaders, youths, women and, most importantly, the good people of Kogi State at home and in the diaspora.

Thirty-five years ago, on August 27, 1991, Kogi State was created from portions of the former Kwara and Benue States by the administration of the then Head of State, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida. The creation brought together communities with shared historical ties and gave renewed expression to the longstanding aspiration for accelerated development of the area.

Today, 35 years later, Kogi has grown into a state of immense strategic importance to Nigeria.

Situated at the geographical heart of the country, Kogi occupies a unique position as the meeting point of the Niger and Benue Rivers in Lokoja, giving it the enduring identity of Nigeria’s Confluence State. Its strategic location, extensive human capital, agricultural potential, mineral resources and historical significance place it among the states with enormous possibilities for economic transformation.

But beyond geography and natural endowments, the greatest strength of Kogi remains its people.

From the Igala East to the Okun West, from Ebira communities to the diverse communities across the State, Kogi’s story is fundamentally a story of people whose resilience, ingenuity, cultural richness and capacity to coexist have continued to sustain the State through changing political and economic seasons.

Thirty-Five Years of Building a State

The journey has not been without challenges.

Like every developing society, Kogi has experienced moments of promise, difficulties, setbacks and renewed hope. Yet, through successive administrations and the contributions of citizens across generations, the State has continued to build the institutions, infrastructure and human capacity required for sustainable development.

The responsibility before today’s generation, therefore, is not merely to celebrate what has been achieved, but to recognise the enormous work that remains.

Anniversaries are moments of celebration, but they are equally moments of accountability and renewed commitment.

As we look back at 35 years of statehood, we must appreciate the sacrifices of our founding fathers, past leaders, public servants, traditional rulers, community leaders, entrepreneurs, farmers, professionals and ordinary citizens whose contributions have shaped Kogi’s journey.

A New Chapter of Economic Possibilities

The present administration of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has continued to emphasise infrastructure, human capital development, agriculture, healthcare, education, youth and women empowerment, food security and economic expansion as key components of its development agenda.

The State’s 2026 Budget of Shared Prosperity, valued at over ₦820 billion, was designed around sustainable development, wealth creation, inclusive growth and improved public service delivery. Its priorities include food security, healthcare, education, road connectivity and infrastructure expansion.

As Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, I consider it a profound responsibility to contribute to the financial and economic architecture required to translate the administration’s development vision into measurable outcomes for our people.

Our collective objective must remain clear: to build a Kogi where public resources are responsibly managed, opportunities are expanded, productive enterprise is encouraged and development reaches every community.

Fiscal responsibility, prudent resource management, improved internally generated revenue, strategic investment and partnerships with the private sector are not merely technical economic expressions. They are instruments for improving the quality of life of our people.

This is why the journey ahead must be driven by a shared commitment to responsible governance, transparency, accountability and sustainable economic growth.

The Kogi We Must Build

At 35, Kogi must look beyond the celebration of its past and embrace the possibilities of its future.

We must continue to invest in our young people, because they represent the energy, creativity and productive capacity of tomorrow’s Kogi.

We must strengthen agriculture and agro-processing, develop our mineral and tourism potentials responsibly, improve infrastructure, support small and medium-scale enterprises, expand digital opportunities and create an environment where investors can confidently do business.

We must also preserve the peace and unity that remain indispensable to development.

Our diversity should never be a source of division. Rather, it should remain our strength.

Kogi’s future belongs to all of us.

A Future of Shared Prosperity

The 35th anniversary is therefore more than a commemoration of the day a State was created. It is a celebration of an enduring idea: that people with a shared history and common destiny can come together to build something greater than themselves.

It is a reminder that the Kogi of tomorrow will be determined by the choices we make today.

I therefore call on all Kogites to renew their faith in our dear State, support initiatives that promote peace and development, hold public institutions accountable and contribute positively to the growth of our communities.

Let us continue to build bridges across our ethnic, political and geographical differences.

Let us make our diversity an asset, our strategic location an economic advantage and our abundant human and natural resources the foundation for a more prosperous future.

As Kogi celebrates 35 years of statehood, I salute the courage of our founding generation, celebrate the achievements of those who have contributed to the State’s development and honour every citizen whose sacrifice has brought us this far.

The journey continues.

Happy 35th Anniversary to our dear Kogi State.

May the Confluence State continue to rise, prosper and occupy its rightful place in the Nigerian federation.

May God Almighty bless Kogi State and her people.

Mukadam Asiwaju Asiru Idris, FCA
Honourable Commissioner
Ministry of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Kogi State.