Lagos state Governor, Akinwumi Ambode, has mulled plans to convert Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED), Ijanikin, to University of Education.
Addressing newsmen yesterday on the plan university status, AOCOED staff unions, said since 2009, they have been agitating for a change in status of the institution to University of Education.
Chairmen of Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), Mr.
Michael Avosetinyen and Senior Staff Union of Colleges of Education in Nigeria (SSUCOEN), Wunmu Ombugadu, at a joint briefing, said the proposed upgrade of AOCOED to university was long overdue and both commended Ambode for taking the initiative.
COEASU chairman said when the management conveyed the news of Ambode’s plan to convert AOCOED into university status, staff and students received it with enthusiasm and jubilation and prayed that the governor would make it a birthday gift in June, during the 60 anniversary of the college.
“We have been able to convince the governor that the University of Education is not only the trend, it is also cultural as our society is no longer interested in college of education as reflected in the previous admission statistics of students who deliberately chose AOCOED as their first choice.
“The highest statistics in the recent past is 24.
The implication of this is that the state government and the college will be at a loss while the staff may not be able to justify their existence.
’’ Avosetinyen revealed that AOCOED has the personnel and facilities to meet up with the new status and added that different accreditation teams of the National Universities Commission (NUC) have accredited the college degree programme, affiliated with Ekiti State University, on three occasions, with 100 percent endorsement in physical structure and personnel.
