FCOE Okene: Thriving in developmental policies

Federal College of Education Okene, Kogi state has carved a niche for itself through the leadership style, prudent management and transparency of the Provost, Dr. Iyela Ajayi. Our correspondent, OYIBO SALIHU reports

H a r d w o r k , d e d i c a t i o n , transparency and accountability among other traits, are the qualities that the Provost, Federal College of Education Okene, Dr. Iyela Ajayi, imbibes. The centre of academic excellence as most people referred to the college in recent time, was established along with two others in Yola, adamawa and Pankshin in Plateau state The college, according to a source, was initially named Federal Advanced Teachers’ College (FATC) Okene, but assumed autonomous status with Decree No 4 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Gazette No. 16, Vol. 73 of 21st March 1986. It is evidently clear that at take-off in 1974, the Federal Advanced Teachers’ College, Okene was located at Esomi in Okene local government area as its temporary site, but later relocated to its permanent site in Otite, Eika-Adagu community, Okehi local government area of Kogi state.

Mo r e s o , t h e p h y s i c a l development in the institution, started in 1975 and by 1980 the fi rst phase of physical development was completed and handed over for usage. Th e institution has churn out thousands of teachers, but presently the student population is over 5,000 students and the college has passed through nine leaderships since inception, but before the assumption of the Dr Iyela Ajayi as the Provost in October 2009, the college was in a dire need of true peace and unity among the students and the staff of the institution .

Beside the poor relationship between the students and the staff, the college suffered dearth of infrastructural development a situation that made many students to stay off campus because of the precarious condition of the hostels. Upon his appointment in October, 2009, Ajayi hit the ground running in view of the enormous challenges inherited by his administration. As an astute administrator of high repute, he used his wealth of experience in academic circle to weave all the existing factions among the staff in the institution together for the transformation of the college.

It is worthy to say that within eight years of his administration, he was able to create a new image for the college as an educational institution noted for Peace and harmony with stable academic calendar, enhanced staff and students welfare, improved academic growth and development as well as aggressive infrastructural development. Apparently, the Provost’s peace initiative has restored hope and confi dence in all aspects of the life of the college which has pave ways for rapid transformation in all facets of the institution. Since October 2009 that Ajayi took over the mantle of leadership of the college over 60 capital projects was attracted and executed while over 80 structures within the campus enjoyed massive renovation.

Also , his staff development policy is unprecedented in the annals of the institution as the policy was able to produced over 100 staff with National Diplomas, over 50 obtained Higher National Diplomas, over 60 with Bachelors degree , over 100 masters and 65 obtained Ph. D in various fi eld of studies. On the health policy of the college, the Provost had performed creditably by renovating and upgrading the facilities of the college medical centre to serve the students and staff better, in addition to new wards constructed to create enough bed spaces for admission.

Th e Provost who took issue of health priority also established a radiography department to provide FCOE Okene: Thriving in developmental policies X-ray service for the students and the staff of the institution including the immediate community, a feat that is lacking in much tertiary institution across the country. In order to achieve the vision statement of the college as a key player in nation building, Ajayi through his conscious effort and determination of the staff commenced undergraduate programme for eff ective training for university degree in teacher’s education. The programme which is in affi liation with a premier university, the university of Ibadan is now in her five years and have produce two sets of qualified graduands ready to contribute their quota to the development of education in the country. C o m m e n t i n g o n t h e performance of the Provost, the Registrar of the college Mr. Peter Otohomorihi Ovansa , described him as an astute administrator who knows what to do at every point in time for the benefi t of the people he led. Ac c o rd i n g t o h i m , t h e circumstances where the Provost met the college was piteous and discouraging as the college was boiling with acrimony occasion by the existing divisions in the college which had hampered peace and unity in the institution.

Ovansa said: “Dr. Ajayi was God sent to change the ugly situation in the college for good. His coming has changed the hands of the clock positively to the admiration of both staff and students. Peace and unity which eluded us for long was brought back to the college. “He institutionalised peace and unity in the college and that alone is something that whoever takes over from him must nurture an sustained in order to further move the institution forward”.

He noted that in the past, the college lacked strategic plan , saying the Provost came out with plans that has transformed the institution tremendously in terms of infrastructure development. According to him, part of the dividend of the strategic plan of Dr Ajayi’s was the recent full accreditation in all the 24 NCE programmes presented by the college to the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE).

Th e Registrar who attributed the huge success to adequate preparation, hard work and commitment on the side of the management, staff and students of the college, said “only very few tertiary institutions in the country can record this type of success in accreditation of academic programmes. “Among all the Federal Colleges of Education in the country, our institution is the only college that recorded full accreditation for all the academic programmes which of course represented 100 percent and similar feat was also recorded for our degree programme” Also eulogising the Provost, a student of the college, Mr. Nuhu Musa said since his appointment to preside over the aff airs of the institution over seven years ago, even the greatest critic of the institution will agree that there has been tremendous change in the aff airs of the institution in terms of peaceful coexistence, unity of purpose and development of the institution and rededication of both staff and students. Musa noted that Ajayi, through his commitment and selfl ess service, the institution has been upgraded to a degree awarding institution which have aided the creation of new departments for the college. It is, therefore, imperative to state that Dr. Ajayi Iyela was appointed by the federal government in October 2009 as the Provost of Federal College of Education, Okene, Kogi state. Born in 1960 at Ogori-Magongo local government area of Kogi atate, Dr. Ajayi Iyela was a Chief Lecturer with the Federal College of Education, Katsina in Katsina state until his appointment.

He had served as both deputy provost between 2003 and 2007 and as acting provost in year 2006 at Federal College of Education, Katsina. Iyela attended Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, where he obtained his B.A (Combined Honours) in History/ Political Science in 1981 and M.A. (History) in 1987. He had his Ph.D. in Economic History from University of Jos, Plateau State in 1998. As an educationist par excellence; a seasoned and conscientious teacher and a researcher, Dr. Ajayi has to his credit over 70 publications, including published books, dissertations and various chapters in books, articles in international journals and has also several seminars, conferences and workshops.

Iyela had served in various administrative capacities in Federal College of Education, Katsina as Head, History Department; Head, General Studies Department; Coordinator, Pre-NCE Programme; Head, Social studies Department; Dean, School of Arts and Social Sciences, and member of over forty (40) Committees, out of which he was Chairman to twenty four (24) of them between 1989 and 2009. He was also an editor to two prominent College Journals.

The commitment to service of Dr. Ajayi Iyela went beyond the bounds of Federal College of Education, Katsina, to several national assignments involving Polytechnics and Colleges of Education Matriculation Examinations; Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB); Senior Secondary School Certifi cate examination (WAEC and NECO); National Commissions for Colleges of Education; Katsina State Teachers’ Registration Council, among others. He also served as external moderator, assessor and examiner in various capacities.

Th is gentle and humble achiever belongs to several professional academic associations among which are National Association for Research Development; Promotion of Academic Excellence in Tertiary Institutions of Nigeria; Social Studies Association of Nigeria; Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria, and the Nigerian institute of Management to list a few. His track record speaks volume and easily explains reasons behind several awards, honours and special recognitions he earned in the course of his career, especially from his employers, staff and students as well as the professional bodies he belongs.

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