Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Academic Board of Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, has sanctioned the withdrawal of 229 students for poor academic performance, a move the institution says is necessary to maintain academic excellence and preserve the integrity of its certificates. The decision was reached during the board’s meeting held on May 12, 2026, under the chairmanship of the Rector, Professor Salihu Sanusi Avidime. The meeting was attended by principal officers, deans, heads of departments, and other members of the Academic Board, who deliberated extensively on academic matters affecting the polytechnic.
A breakdown released by the institution showed that the affected students were drawn from National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes, spanning departments including Accountancy, Business Administration, Computer Science, Public Administration, Science Laboratory Technology, Mass Communication, Library and Information Science, and Office Technology and Management, among others. The Academic Board also approved the first semester examination results for the 2025/2026 academic session, following what officials described as a thorough verification exercise conducted by the Academic Board Central Results Verification Committee.
According to a statement signed by the Acting Coordinator of Public Relations and Protocols of Kogi State Polytechnic, John Amos Onimisi, the verification committee carefully scrutinised and authenticated submissions from various departments and schools to ensure accuracy, fairness, and compliance with the polytechnic’s academic regulations. The committee’s report served as a critical guide in the Academic Board’s deliberations and final decisions on the results. Onimisi said the approval of the results followed a rigorous and comprehensive verification process.
Speaking after the meeting, Rector Professor Avidime commended members of the verification committee for their diligence, professionalism, and commitment to maintaining academic standards. He noted that the committee’s efforts have continued to strengthen the institution’s academic integrity and uphold high educational standards necessary for producing competent graduates. He stressed that the board’s decision to withdraw the 229 students was taken in the overall interest of sustaining quality education and encouraging seriousness, discipline, and improved academic commitment among students across all programmes of the institution.
The board maintained that the withdrawal of the affected students was in line with the polytechnic’s academic regulations and was aimed at preserving the quality of certificates awarded by the institution. The statement added that the measure is intended to encourage discipline and better academic performance among students, sending a clear signal that the institution will not tolerate consistent underperformance.
This is not the first time the polytechnic has taken such drastic action. In June 2025, the Academic Board withdrew 273 students for poor academic performance and expelled six others for examination malpractice. At the time, the institution’s spokesperson, Uredo Omale, disclosed that the withdrawals were approved after the affected students performed below expectations in the first semester examinations. The six expelled students, drawn from departments including Mass Communication, Business Administration, and Accountancy, were caught with unauthorised materials during exams, violating Section 4.35(9) of the 2021 Revised Edition of the Students’ Information Handbook.
The pattern of mass withdrawals reflects a broader effort by the polytechnic’s management to shake off past allegations of lax standards. For years, Kogi State Polytechnic struggled with a reputation for being a “miracle centre”, where results were allegedly manipulated to favour underperforming students. The administration of Professor Avidime has made academic integrity a central pillar of its reform agenda, with the current and previous withdrawals serving as clear evidence that the era of leniency is over.
While the decision has been praised by education stakeholders who argue that maintaining high standards is non‑negotiable, it has also drawn criticism from those who believe the polytechnic should offer more remedial support to struggling students before resorting to withdrawal. Some parents have expressed concern that the institution’s rigid approach fails to account for individual circumstances, such as health issues or financial difficulties, that may have contributed to poor performance. The polytechnic has not publicly commented on whether any appeal mechanism exists for affected students.
As the 2025/2026 academic session continues, the message from the Kogi State Polytechnic administration is unmistakable: students who fail to meet academic requirements will be shown the door, and the era of automatic promotion regardless of performance is over. For the 229 students now forced to seek alternative educational paths, the lesson is harsh but clear.
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Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Academic Board of Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, has sanctioned the withdrawal of 229 students for poor academic performance, a move the institution says is necessary to maintain academic excellence and preserve the integrity of its certificates. The decision was reached during the board’s meeting held on May 12, 2026, under the chairmanship of the Rector, Professor Salihu Sanusi Avidime. The meeting was attended by principal officers, deans, heads of departments, and other members of the Academic Board, who deliberated extensively on academic matters affecting the polytechnic.
A breakdown released by the institution showed that the affected students were drawn from National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes, spanning departments including Accountancy, Business Administration, Computer Science, Public Administration, Science Laboratory Technology, Mass Communication, Library and Information Science, and Office Technology and Management, among others. The Academic Board also approved the first semester examination results for the 2025/2026 academic session, following what officials described as a thorough verification exercise conducted by the Academic Board Central Results Verification Committee.
According to a statement signed by the Acting Coordinator of Public Relations and Protocols of Kogi State Polytechnic, John Amos Onimisi, the verification committee carefully scrutinised and authenticated submissions from various departments and schools to ensure accuracy, fairness, and compliance with the polytechnic’s academic regulations. The committee’s report served as a critical guide in the Academic Board’s deliberations and final decisions on the results. Onimisi said the approval of the results followed a rigorous and comprehensive verification process.
Speaking after the meeting, Rector Professor Avidime commended members of the verification committee for their diligence, professionalism, and commitment to maintaining academic standards. He noted that the committee’s efforts have continued to strengthen the institution’s academic integrity and uphold high educational standards necessary for producing competent graduates. He stressed that the board’s decision to withdraw the 229 students was taken in the overall interest of sustaining quality education and encouraging seriousness, discipline, and improved academic commitment among students across all programmes of the institution.
The board maintained that the withdrawal of the affected students was in line with the polytechnic’s academic regulations and was aimed at preserving the quality of certificates awarded by the institution. The statement added that the measure is intended to encourage discipline and better academic performance among students, sending a clear signal that the institution will not tolerate consistent underperformance.
This is not the first time the polytechnic has taken such drastic action. In June 2025, the Academic Board withdrew 273 students for poor academic performance and expelled six others for examination malpractice. At the time, the institution’s spokesperson, Uredo Omale, disclosed that the withdrawals were approved after the affected students performed below expectations in the first semester examinations. The six expelled students, drawn from departments including Mass Communication, Business Administration, and Accountancy, were caught with unauthorised materials during exams, violating Section 4.35(9) of the 2021 Revised Edition of the Students’ Information Handbook.
The pattern of mass withdrawals reflects a broader effort by the polytechnic’s management to shake off past allegations of lax standards. For years, Kogi State Polytechnic struggled with a reputation for being a “miracle centre”, where results were allegedly manipulated to favour underperforming students. The administration of Professor Avidime has made academic integrity a central pillar of its reform agenda, with the current and previous withdrawals serving as clear evidence that the era of leniency is over.
While the decision has been praised by education stakeholders who argue that maintaining high standards is non‑negotiable, it has also drawn criticism from those who believe the polytechnic should offer more remedial support to struggling students before resorting to withdrawal. Some parents have expressed concern that the institution’s rigid approach fails to account for individual circumstances, such as health issues or financial difficulties, that may have contributed to poor performance. The polytechnic has not publicly commented on whether any appeal mechanism exists for affected students.
As the 2025/2026 academic session continues, the message from the Kogi State Polytechnic administration is unmistakable: students who fail to meet academic requirements will be shown the door, and the era of automatic promotion regardless of performance is over. For the 229 students now forced to seek alternative educational paths, the lesson is harsh but clear.
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✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews.
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