Nation Building: FCE, Abeokuta boosts teaching profession, convocates 8,777 graduates
ABIODUN JIMOH, ABEOKUTA
Known for its bedrock of inculcating sound morals, academic values and excellence, Federal College of Education (FCE), Osiele, Abeokuta has graduated another set of 8,777 quality graduates into the teaching profession.
The set of graduands that were conferred at the 24th Convocation Ceremony for the award of Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) held at the Maina hall, on Thursday, had been trained through the full time, part time, and sandwich programmes in five academic sessions from 2013/2104 to 2017/2018 session.
The combined convocation had in attendance the Hon. Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, ably represented by the Executive Secretary, National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), Professor Bappa-Aliyu Muhammadu; Mrs. Grace Fabode-Balogun, Chairman, Governing Council of the College.
Also, wife of the former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; ex-Provost of FCE, Dr. Emmanuel Olakunke Fulani; representatives of various Colleges of Education across the country; principal officers of FCE, and many others.
However, in his address, Minister of Education, reiterated that the Federal Government attitude towards examination malpractice, cultism violence, inappropriate/indecent dressing and many other social vices remained at zero tolerance level. He added that government action is imperative to ensure that academic campuses remained host only to men and women of impeccable character.
Furthermore, he expressed that FG has continued to grant approval for the establishment of new institutions of higher learning to further create additional admission spaces for the teeming youths and others seeking to drink from the fountain of knowledge at the university, polytechnic and college of education level.
“Education remains one of the cornerstone of any nation hence the present administration has been unrelenting in the pursuit of increasing access to education. Ministry of Education has been in the fore front of reform efforts aimed at re-engineering and repositioning the education sector.
“In the light of this, provisions have been made to ensure that compulsory ICT and Entrepreneurial courses are offered by students at various levels, especially at tertiary institutions. This is targeted at making our student to be in tune with current trends and realities.
Similarly, Mrs. Fabode-Balogun on her part appealed to private sectors to collaborate with the College management on the prospect of facilitating the construction of many more projects that would further showcase the development of the College as academic excellence.
“I must also appeal to the Federal Government for sponsorship of additional capital projects that will further enhance the quality of education that the government is desirous of. Our appreciation will not be complete without due recourse to eminent Nigerians like our father, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo (GCFR), who through his institution and initiative saw to the establishment of this great institution in 1976.
“The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) cannot be left out in my appreciation list because of the strategic role played in the development of both human and infrastructural development of the College. The intervention have greatly improved the generality of quality of education and infrastructure in the College.”
In the same vein, Dr. Ayodele Adetayo Ajayi, Provost of the College affirmed that from their strong foundation and experience in teaching and learning, they have continued to grow and shape the future of their students to ensure a bright future and a better society.
Dr. Ajayi said: “FCE, Abeokuta has presently invested in our students experiences, by developing and expanding our range of academic programmes to ensure that the high quality of our curriculum and it’s delivery provides learners with the skills required for relevance in the global economy.
“Realising that globally, teacher professionalism has become very imperative, Federal College of Education, Abeokuta has been unrelenting in mounting programmes that lend support to the upgrade of teachers. For instance, our College is always among the first to key into and implement the programmes of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).”
