By Charles Abere
The newly established Federal College of Education, Ilawe Ekiti has taken off as the Principal Officers of the Institution arrived the host community, Ilawe in Ekiti South West Local Government Area of Ekiti State to familiarise with the people of the town.
In his remarks, the Provost of the College, Dr. Gbade Ikuejube appreciated the monarch and his subjects for the rousing welcome and warm reception accorded them.
He urged the people of Ilawe-Ekiti to ensure that the community is homely for the management, staff and students that will be coming to study in the Institution.
While acknowledging the efforts of Alawe of Ilawe Ekiti, Oba Ajibade Alabi, Barrister Femi Falana and other notable sons and daughters of Ilawe-Ekiti towards ensuring that the Federal College of Education is sited at Ilawe, Ikuejube stated that out of the five newly established Federal Colleges of Education, Ilawe-Ekiti was lucky to have the only one meant for the Southwest Nigeria.
According to him, the former President Muhammadu Buhari signed the bill establishing the Federal College Of Education, Ilawe Ekiti on the 18th of April, 2023 and also ensured he approved the appointment of the four Principal Officers of the Institution before leaving office on the 29th of May, 2023. He appreciated the current leadership of the country, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for supporting the take off of the Institution in Ilawe.
Dr. Gbade Ikuejube, therefore assured the people of Ilawe-Ekiti of their readiness to make a solid foundation for the College and also ensure that the institution flourish among others by setting the pace that won’t be easy to compete with.
In his word, “we have a strong vision to make the Institution attain a world class status, not only in Nigeria, but among other tertiary institutions all over the world.
The Provost enjoined all the people of Ilawe-Ekiti to join hands with him and other Principal Officers of the institution to ensure they succeed being the pioneer staff of the Institution. Just as he promised that staffers recruitment would start from Ilawe.
“We will try as much as possible to come up with three years strategic plan for the Institution. We will build Faculties, the one we call Schools in Colleges. We will focus on Science, Humanities, Vocational and Technical Education. Those would be our focus. We would ensure we seek the support of the Federal Government, that of the Federal Ministry of Education, National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) and the TETFUND to put in place befitting infrastructures for the Institution.
Ikuejube maintained that very magnificent buildings that will accommodate five Faculties will be required for the Institution. Besides, he said, buildings will be needed for the Administrative Blocks, Bursary Department, Provost Office, Registrar’s Office, and all other offices that will take care of other segments of the society. We will have different Directorates such as Directorate of Entrepreneurship Studies and Directorate of External Programmes among others”. The Provost explained.
Giving assurance that the Institution will maintain a good relationship with the host community and ensure that they do not lag behind in the provision of Corporate Social Responsibilities, the Provost said they would try as much as possible to establish one of the best secondary and primary schools including kindergarten with the promise that school fees will be very low to enable people put their children/wards.
“On our health facilities, we will make sure that the community will benefit from it. The minimum land that will be needed can not be less than 500 plots.
“The new law signed for the Colleges in the Country as at today is that each College is free to have degree programmes. Hence the Federal College of Education, Ilawe Ekiti is not just a College of Education but a College of Education cum University. It’s a dual programming. We will partner locally, nationally and internationally”, he assured.
“For our national partnership, it will be with reputable Universities for Masters and PhD programmes, so that the people of Ilawe Ekiti will not need to travel outside of their community to have Masters and PhDs. You can become a Masters and PhD Holders in Federal College Of Education, Ilawe Ekiti.
He advised the people of Ilawe to prepare very well in terms of provision of adequate accomodation as they will begin to receive exodus of students and staff in the community.
“Ilawe Ekiti people are very lucky because there community is strategically located. It is accessible to all the Institutions in Ilesa, Ikere and Ondo which are no longer running an NCE programme. We will need hostels accommodation. Government cannot do it alone. We will appeal to Ilaweans home and abroad to support in the areas of hostels.
Dr Ikuejube told Ilawe people to be thankful to God for having their prayers answered most especially for giving them an institution that will no doubt enlarge their community. He urged that they should cooperate with the Institution’s management and advised them to ensure that the non-indigenes coming live in peace in the community.
Meanwhile, in his own remarks, the Alawe of Ilawe Ekiti, Oba Ajibade Alabi having welcomed the team, gave the assurance that the people of Ilawe will be hospitable to them.
He used the opportunity to inform them that United High School along Ilawe/Igede Ekiti road would serve as the Institution’s temporary site while an expansive land that will accommodate the entire Institution buildings permanently is along Ilawe/ Ikere Ekiti road.
The team which was warmly received by the Traditional Ruler of the town, HRM, Oba Ajibade Alabi, the Alawe of Ilawe-Ekiti, his chiefs and the entire people of Ilawe-Ekiti, included; the Provost of the College, Dr. Gbade Ikuejube, the Registrar, Dr. Mrs. Khadijah Wuraola Garba; the Bursar , Mr. Muritala Shittu, and the Librarian, Dr. Abdulmumin Isah.