No serious development without teachers —Minister

THE Federal Government has acknowledged that no serious development can take place without the role of teachers.

Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, made the remarks lastThursday in his address at the 37th convocation of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka, Lagos.

Represented by a director in the ministry, Mr. Ezekiel Asubiojo, the minister said in view of the need to have well trained teachers, his ministry and its agencies had been tasked to empower, accredit, fund, supervise and regulate the preparation and overall professionalisation of teaching.

Adamu also said the challenges of girl-child education, low enrollment and out-of-school children were already being addressed through the revival of the Education Bank.

This, he explained, “is to grant funds on generous terms to learners and tackle traditional/cultural barriers through vigorous sensitisation campaigns by relevant government agencies.”

Last Thursday’s convocation concluded the week-long series of activities to mark the 50th anniversary of the college.

The Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education, Professor Bappa Aliyu Mohammed, an alumnus of the college, commended the past and present governing councils and management of the college for their vision and quality of leadership.

The governing council chairman, Honourable Iheanacho Obioma, appealed to the Federal Government to assist the college with funds.

He said inadequate funding and capital allocation to the institution had been hampering seamless administration, and creating uneasiness between management, staff and students.

“Honourable minister, sir, the college will further appreciate your intervention in the regular and timely release of capital funds in order to facilitate the rehabilitation and maintenance of existing infrastructures,” he said.

He also commended and solicited the continuous support of the alumni and other development partners as well as private stakeholders in the collective drive to sustain the growth of technical, science and vocational education in Nigeria, and the college in particular.

Hon Obioma used the occasion to appeal to the minister to use his influence to resolve the lingering issue of a parcel of land which had been a subject of contention between the college and the University of Lagos.

Lack of resolution of the crisis, he said, had been hampering the vision of the college to expand its physical structures and academic programmes.

A total of 5,522 graduated during the ceremony, comprising 1,913 with NCE full time; 3,504 with NCE through distance learning, and 105 with Professional Diploma in Education (PDE).

Mr Arile Olajide Josiah from the Department of Office Technology and Management Education emerged the overall best student with a CGPA of 4.62.