Adeyemi College of Education, three others become varsities

The Federal Executive Council on Wednesday
approved the conversion of four federal colleges
of education to universities.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the
council presided over by President Goodluck
Jonathan.
The Minister of Information, Patricia Akwashiki
and Minister of Education, Ibrahim Shekarau,
briefed State House correspondents of the
meeting’s outcome.
Shekarau listed the affected colleges of education
to include Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo
(now Adeyemi University of Education, Ondo);
Federal College of Education, Zaria (now Federal
University of Education, Zaria); Federal College of
Education, Kano (now Federal University of
Education, Kano); and Alvan Ikoku College of
Education, Owerri (now Alvan Ikoku University of
Education, Owerri).
The minister explained that the colleges of
education are part of the 21 federal colleges of
education that had been awarding degree
programmes in the last three decades under the
close supervision of the different universities they
had been affiliated to.
He said the council considered the need for
further quality in the teaching profession, hence
the conversion of the colleges to universities
since more graduates would be needed as
teachers.
“We are heading to having more graduates in the
teaching profession and hence the need for these
universities to produce graduates in education. If
we need quality education, we need quality
teachers,” he said.
Shekarau explained that the next step was for the
Ministry of Justice to prepare amendment to the
laws establishing the colleges.
This, he explained, would be followed by some
administrative changes.
The minister also said the council had approved
the establishment of the Federal University of
Health Sciences in Otukpo, Benue State.
Until the approval, the university is said to be the
College of Medical Health Sciences under the
Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi.
He said the institution had now been granted
autonomy as part of continuous efforts to ensure
production of quality graduates into the various
fields of medicine and sciences.
Copyright PUNCH.