Arrangements are underway to secure the take-off of a Federal Government College of Education in Ofeme-Ohuhu, Umuahia-North Local Government Area of Abia State.
To this end, the Abia State Government has handed over a Certificate of Ownership (C-of-O) to the Federal Government for the parcel of land acquired and donated for the College, promised to undertake the reconstruction of roads within the temporary School premises and adjoining roads leading into the Institution, and appointed a 4-man state committee, headed by the Secretary to the State Government Prof Kenneth Kalu, to work with the team from Abuja, to ensure the September deadline given by the Federal Government for the take-off is realized.
While handing over the land documents, the Governor named other Committee members, including 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.
Fortnightly, the Committee will provide the Governor with a written progress report on the status of work at the site and the Institution.
Governor Otti emphasised the importance of high-quality teacher education in meeting today’s issues.
He has also promised to increase his annual budgetary allocation to the education sector from 20 to 25 percent, as well as to raise teachers’ retirement ages as soon as possible, in order to meet his goals for the sector.
Governor Otti argued that, while the State Government has a College of Education in Arochukwu, which his administration is working hard to restore from the ruins of abandonment, the one College of Education is insufficient to train the type and number of teachers the State requires to deal with school teacher/student/pupil ratios.
His words, “We consider the Federal College of Education as a great asset to the State. When you have 20 percent of your budget dedicated to education, we believe that we will probably get to 25 percent 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 doesn’t mean you won’t have a job tomorrow.
“We are working very hard to retrieve the State College of Education (Technical) at Arochukwu. But we strongly believe that one College of Education is not enough to train the kind of teachers and the numbers that we require.
“Having already done what many considered ingenious by increasing the retirement age of teachers from 60 to 65 years, this administration is considering extending Teachers retirement age to 70 years, as a way of attracting people to the teaching profession.”
He explained that with teaching, one gets better with age and continuous re-training.
“We need to put our feet down on what teachers should learn and how they should learn them. The truth is that you cannot give what you don’t have. So, if you teach pinhole cameras in 2024, what you will get are graduates that will retire before they start.
“Everywhere today, we are talking of digital technology. We are talking of broadband, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). We are talking of software engineering. We are talking of artificial intelligence. We are talking of robotics and electronic vehicles. I’m 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. I hope there will be room for us to seat down and agree on what should be taught there? And, if we don’t have the resources, we will support you to get the resources from outside”, Governor Otti assured.
“So you can take it for granted that this Government will support you. If you have set a September deadline, A journey of a thousand miles starts with one step. Let’s start. When we start, we will continue building.
“So, let me thank you once again and it is on this note that I like to handover the Certificate of Occupancy for the Federal College of Education in Ofoeme to the Federal Government”.
Earlier in her remark, Dr. Uchenna Ubah, who represented Mrs. Didi Wilson-Jack, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, stated that they did a lot to help the College grow over the years. However, all changed when Dr. Alex Otti took over Abia State.
In her words, “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. Who approached us at Abuja and made us to start processing the establishment of the college again. Left as it was at that stage, we had given off hope and really decided to take it to another State. They( Otti and his commissioners) came and showed passion and interest in the project 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”.
In his Vote of Thanks, the College’s Provost, Dr. Titus Ezeme, commended Governor Otti and members of his team for their contributions to the college’s establishment. He expressed confidence that knowing Governor Otti’s pedigree, the pledges he made to help the college succeed would be honoured.