By Timothy Ekpo
IBIONO IBOM
The Akwa Ibom government has handed over 94.927 hectares of land to the Federal Ministry of Education for the take-off of Federal College Of Education, Ididep in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area of the state.
At the official presentation of the Certificate of Occupancy to the minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, the state governor, Pastor Umo Eno, said that apart from the landed property and existing structures at the defunct Teacher Training College (TTC), Ididep, government would provide a signature project to support the institution in the training of qualified manpower for the nation’s educational system.
Represented by the deputy governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, the governor appreciated the education minister for the expeditious manner he handled issues bordering on the smooth take-off of the college, stressing that the way the minister had treated matters since his assumption of office had reinforced the saying that better results were achieved when round pegs were fixed in round holes.
The state chief executive explained that the hand over of the facility marked another milestone in the consistent drive of the state for sustainable socio-economic development, taking cognizance of the fundamental role of quality manpower in the development of education in the state.
“There won’t be quality manpower without sound teaching and training. So, the magnanimous establishment of the Federal College of Education, Ididep, by the federal government easily aligns with the design of Akwa Ibom State of the future,” Eno said.
He stated that the presentation of the title documents, specifically the Certificate of Occupancy and Survey Plan of the site for the institution was a symbolic handover of the land to the federal government, were not mere paper exchange as the cash worth of the land was above N95 million.
Eno pointed out that government’s investment in the institution, was aimed at securing the future of the present and upcoming generations of young Akwa Ibomites and Nigerians.
The governor noted that Federal College of Education, Ididep, meant a lot to the state as it would not only train human capital for the State and nation but also vested with the responsibility of training those who, in turn, would train others, even as teachers remained a critical factor in the school system.
“Federal College of Education, Ididep, occupies a very special place in our hearts because it won’t only train human capital for our State and nation, it is saddled with the responsibility of training those who will in turn train others. Teachers are such a critical factor in the school system that any institution which trains them must be taken very seriously.”
Eno further said that Akwa Ibom was determined to play its role in improving the quality of education in Nigeria with the establishment of model schools, comparable to their counterparts anywhere in the world.
He stressed that with the free and compulsory education on course government, under the ARISE Agenda, has added free uniforms, sandals and exercise books to the package to ensure that no Akwa Ibom or Nigerian child resident in the state was denied education for whatever reason.
The governor pointed out that the importance of basic education as the foundation on which further academic attainments were built could not be over-emphasised, adding that the system would amount to nothing if basic education was neglected.
Eno observed that fixing education at the basic and secondary levels was crucial and that was the reason his administration had begun with paying attention to its manpower requirement in welcoming the take-off of Federal College Of Education, Ididep.
The governor appreciated the efforts of members of the host community, led by Senator Ita Enang, for exhibiting an admirable degree of hunger for the development of Ididep through the support for the establishment of the institution.
Provost of the College, Dr Edem Ntuk, thanked Senator Enang, for being instrumental to the siting of the college in the area, adding that the institution was among the last batch of colleges of education approved by the Federal Government and commended President Ahmed Tinubu for considering Akwa Ibom as a beneficiary.
Ntuk, who applauded Gov Umo Eno for the processing and presentation of the Certificate of Occupancy to the Federal Government, appealed for the payment of compensation to the host community for their economic trees to facilitate the development of the college.
He urged the minister of Education to facilitate the waiver for recruitment, adding that the institution was faced with enormous teething challenges and needed the construction of 10-classroom blocks, administrative building, library, auditorium, hostels, clinic, perimeter fence, access road and take off grant among other needs.
The paramount ruler, Ibiono Ibom, HRM Okuku Ime Udousoroh Inyang, described the event as an important procedure in the actualisation of the project after several failed efforts by government to get a project located at the defunct Teachers Training College, Ididep and commended Senator Enang for his doggedness in achieving the goal.
Inyang appreciated the President Tinubu-led administration for the establishment of the college, and appealed to the minister of Education to consider the option of upgrading the college to a Federal University of Education.
The facilitator of the college, Senator Ita Enang, appreciated God for making his dream to attract a federal government project to the area a reality with the establishment of the college by former President Muhammadu Buhari in May 2023.
Enang thanked President Ahmed Tinubu for directing the commencement of the institution and the state governor, Pastor Umo Eno for taking extra steps to realise Federal College of Education, Ididep with the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy to the minister of Education.
The former National Assembly member, who titled his speech: “In the Master’s Plan”, said that it was God’s plan that Federal College of Education, Ididep, came to the area now after his bids to get the federal government to establish a federal polytechnic and a federal university of technology by President Goodluck Jonathan and President Mohammed Buhari, respectively, failed.
He said the location was where the defunct Teachers Training College (TTC), Ididep, which he attended was, adding that it was a privilege that in his life time and by God’s providence “the school he attended for five years, the dormitory he slept, the tables he ate with and the environment he lived had graduated to a federal college of education”.
The chairman, Ibiono Ibom Local Government Council, Mr Polycap Ekopimo, thanked government for the gesture and assured that the people would work to ensure that the college succeeds.
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