Fed Govt College Of Education, Abia, Takes Off September As Gov Otti, Pledges Total Support

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Governor Alex Otti, has assured that all necessary support will be given to the Federal Government to ensure that the newly established Federal College of Education in Abia state meets its September 2024 takes off dateline.

This is even as he expressed the optimism that the Federal institution will assist the State in producing the needed man power to service its requirements, particularly in this era of digital technology, broad band, soft ware engineering, artificial intelligence and others.

The Abia State Governor noted that even though the State has an existing College of Education in Arochukwu, it is not enough in producing the number of teachers needed for the State to meet the challenges of the digital era.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, by his Chief Press Secretary Ukoha Njoku Ukoha, Governor Otti who spoke at the  occasion of formal handover of the land documents donated to the Federal Government for the proposed permanent site of the College, noted that his administration is irrevocably committed to improving the education sector in Abia state .

“”We consider the Federal College of Education a great asset to the  state, when you have twenty percent of your budget dedicated to education ,we believe that we will probably get up to %25 very soon .

“For us we are very resolute and unrepentant about our commitment to education . Even if you complete your education and you don’t have a job,it is not a problem .

“That you don’t have a job today does not mean you   will not have a job tomorrow.

“We have a College of Education here that has been abandoned over the years. We are working very hard to retrieve it- the State College of Education in Arochukwu.

“But we strongly believe that one college of education is not enough to train the number and kinds of teachers that we require”

To ensure that the September proposed date for the commencement of the College is realized, the  Government , according to the statement has set up a steering Committee to effectively liaise with the Federal Ministry of Education.

The four-man committee is headed by the Secretary to the state Government SSG Prof. Kenneth Kalu.

Governor Otti directed the Committee which membership include the Commissioners for Education ,Prof Eme Uche Eme , Lands and Housing Chaka Chukwumerije,  and the Special Adviser on Education Kenechukwu Nwosu, to be briefing him  on the progress made fortnightly.

Further Speaking, Governor Otti emphasized the importance of the establishment of the Federal College in the face of recent development within the global stage .

” Everywhere today ,we are talking about digital technology, broadband, Science and Technology.We are talking about engineering and mathematics, soft wares, artificial intelligence, robotics and electronic vehicles.

“I have mentioned all these just to tell us where the world is today headed for. Those are the kinds of things ,we can work with you,particularly the provost and the Chairman of the Governing Council to sort out.

“We need to sit down and look at the curriculum ,so that you teach people what will be useful to them..

“We don’t have the resources,but we will support you to get the resources from outside” the Governor pledged .

In his remarks, representative of the Federal Ministry of Education, Dr Uchenna Ubah, while  appreciating Governor Otti for his unwavering support, also, recalled that much futile efforts were made to realize the dream before now.

“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 was when I met Chukumerije, the 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 took it to another state .

“He came and showed passion that you sent him and we started again .We are here to take over the documents of the land and also to  access the place that you have given us to see if by September students can come in”, Ubah noted.