By Ayodele Oni
All is set for the take off of four Colleges of Education which were upgraded to University status during the administration of Dr Goodluck Jonathan.
The affected Colleges are Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo, Ondo State; took off already, Federal College of Education, Zaria, Kaduna State; Federal College of Education, Kano, Kano State; and Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Owerri. Imo State.
The delay in the take off of the institutions was as a result of a change in Government from President Jonathan to President Mohammadu Buhari, who embargoed the process.
Already the Federal Ministry of Education, in a letter signed by . U.C. Uba, on behalf of the Permanent secretary, has invited affected States to a meeting in Abuja to fine-tune the process of take off.
The letter reads “You may wish to recall that during Presidernt Goodluck Jonathan’s Administration, the following four Colleges of Education were upgraded to Federal Universities of Education:
Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo, Ondo State; Federal College of Education, Zaria, Kaduna State; Federal College of Education, Kano, Kano State; and Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Owerri. Imo State.
“As you are aware, this was put on hold by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.
“However, approval had been granted for the reversion of ban placed on the upgrade of
these four Federal Colleges of Education to Federal Universities of Education.
“I am therefore directed to invite you to a meeting with the Permanent Secretary
to discuss preliminary steps for implementing the Presidential approval.
“The meeting is scheduled to hold as follows:
Wednesday 7th June, 2023
“Venue: Permanent Secretary’s Conference Room, 1 Floor,
Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja. Time: 12.00noon
“Please accept the assurances of the Permanent Secretary’s warm regards.”
Based on this letter, Imo State is already agog in expectation of the take-off of the Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri, which, the people insist is long overdue.
