Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has officially handed over the Certificate of Occupancy for the land allocated to the Federal Government for the establishment of a Federal College of Education in Ofeme, Umuahia North LGA.
Governor Otti, while handing over the land documents, also set-up a Four-Man Committee headed by the Secretary to the State Government Prof. Kenneth Kalu to ensure that the proposed September deadline set by the Federal Government for the takeoff of the institution is realized.
Other members of the Committee include the State Commissioner for Education, Prof Eme Uche Eme, the State Commissioner for Lands and Housing Mr. Chaka Chukwumerije, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education Mr. Kenechukwu Nwosu. The Committee is to give the Governor a written progress report fortnightly.
Governor Otti, during the handover, emphasized the state’s commitment to education and highlighted ongoing efforts to revive the State College of Education in Arochukwu, stressing that one college is insufficient for the state’s educational needs.
“We consider the Federal College of Education a great asset to the state. With 20% of our budget dedicated to education, we believe we will soon reach 25%.
“For us, we are very resolute and unrepentant about our commitment to education.
“We do have a College of Education here that has been abandoned over the years. We are working very hard to retrieve it.
“We strongly believe that one College of Education is not enough to train the kind of teachers and the numbers that we require”,Gov Otti said.
He reiterated his administration’s innovative approach, such as increasing the retirement age for teachers from 60 to 65 years, adding that his administration is considering extending it to 70 years with a discriminatory package to attract people to the teaching profession.
Governor Otti who harped on the need for continuous training for teachers, underscored the importance of modern educational curricula that would align with modern educational advancements.
“Everywhere today, we are talking of digital technology. we are talking of broadband. we are talking of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
“We are talking of Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Electronic vehicles. I am bringing that to tell you where the world is going. Those are the kind of things I hope I can work with you particularly the provost, the Chairman of the Governing Council.
“We need to sit down and look at the curricular so that you teach people what will be useful to them”, the Governor stated.
He pledged the commitment and support of the state government to help the Federal government meet up with the September deadline for the takeoff of the institution.
Earlier in her speech, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Mrs. Didi Wilson-Jack, represented by Dr. Uchenna Ubah, commended Governor Otti for his proactive efforts in facilitating the college’s establishment.
“Your Excellency , I want to really thank you for taking the bull by the horn to establish this College of Education because when you came in, you took charge and sent some of your Commissioners.
“That’s where I met Chukwumerije (Commissioner for Lands and Housing), he came to Abuja and made us to start processing the establishment of the college again because at a stage, we had to really take it off and take it to another State but he came and showed passion that you sent him and we started again.
“We are here today to take over the documents of the land and also to access the place that you have given us to see if by September the students can come in”, she noted.
In a vote of thanks, the Provost of the College, Dr. Titus Ezeme expressed gratitude to Governor Otti and his team for their strategic roles in actualizing the college and expressed confidence in the Governor’s commitment to fulfilling the promises made to support the institution.
