• As UNIBEN-FCE (T) matriculates 249 for affiliation programmes
Provost, Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka, Lagos, Dr. Wahab Ademola Azeez, has identified some of the challenges confronting his administration to include poor budgetary allocation, land constraints, insufficient manpower as well as infrastructural facilities for teaching.
Azeez, who recently commenced another term of four years, also outlined his plans on how to move the institution forward. Speaking at a media briefing, the rector said the college pioneered the establishment of the Technical Teacher Education Programme in Nigeria.
He said the main thrust of the school since interception is providing technical and vocational education to students and empowering them with relevant entrepreneurial skills for overall development of the nation.
He said the college enjoyed relative peace and stability of academic activities over the years, because it was able to manage its challenges and crises through dialogue and peaceful negotiations.
The provost added that all the courses have received full accreditation and has gone ahead to expand the frontiers of academic programmes by introducing Marketing Education and Entrepreneurship Education in the School of Business Education. He assured that the college would do more in subsequent years.
He said: “We need to build an infrastructural base and train personnel to save the country a large sum of capital flight expended on training of students abroad.
“We shall put fabrication of teaching and learning equipment and tools, and improvisation of materials on our priority list to reduce the cost of procurement of these items.
“We shall use existing human capital and facilities of the college to generate more income to support government and other funding agencies and collaborate with foreign experts, institutions and partners in the areas of staff training.
Meanwhile, about 249 students took the matriculation oath for the 2022/2023 academic session at an exchange programme with the University of Benin (UNIBEN).
Azeez, at the ceremony explained that 87 fresh students matriculated for various programmes, while 162 were admitted as direct entry students making a total of 249. He encouraged them to set high academic and moral standards.
According to him, the university and college have the mandate to provide qualitative science, vocational and technical education to students.
Similarly, the Vice Chancellor, University of Benin, Prof Lillian Salami, represented by the chairman affiliation committee, Prof. Osamade Omorogiuwa, encouraged the students to be good representatives of their families and the institutions.
She implored them to be determined, diligent and resilient in their academic pursuit.
“Your admission must be seen as a rare opportunity for which you must be grateful, and a privilege which you must protect and guard jealousy throughout your stay here,” she said.
Salami added that obedience to the rules and regulations of the institution is mandatory, as the university has zero tolerance for any unlawful act and is ready to impose sanctions on erring students.
The VC also appealed to the students to shun vices like cultism, drug abuse, prostitution, exam malpractice and other immoral activities that may mar their sojourn in the institution.