Recently, Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education(AIFCE) held her 26th convocation ceremonies. In this analysis, CHIDIEBERE IWUOHA captures salient messages from the Provost, Dr Blessing Ijioma, the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, others.
Convocation lecture
In the convocation lecture delivered by an educationist, Dr (Mrs.) Sally Nkem Adukwu-Bolujoko, entitled: “Teacher Education: The Place of Ethics and Values in Preparing Graduates for the 21st Century Workplace in Nigeria”, she called on the federal government to map out half of the nation’s budget for education each year for 20 years to revamped the sector.
These would include renovation of dilapidated structures, replacement of obsolete equipment, among others.
Former Executive Secretary, NERDC, Prof. Godswill Obioma who represented the Minister of State for Education Prof. Anthony Anwukah, demonstrated his happiness through a more exciting lecture on cultural values.
The Alvan Provost at the convocation
The college Provost, Dr. Blessing Ijioma, said the institution has had a rather eventful year by formally graduating the students. She described convocation as a time for blowing the trumpets of joy as it marked the successful completion of the academic journey.
“Thus, this ceremony celebrates those students who have adhered to their matriculation oaths and obeyed all the rules and regulations of the College. Finally, these students have been found worthy in character and learning.”
Ijioma said the College had two accreditation exercises by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the National Commission for Colleges off Education(NCCE) and expressed happiness that all their 24 Bachelor of Education programmes in affiliation with the University of Nigeria, Nsukka had full accreditation.
Also, new programmes in Technical Education, Adult and Non-Formal Education, Vocational Education and Special Education were introduced recently. She said that the College also held its 1st Inaugural Lecture which she delivered and also hosted the annual congress of the Nigerian Academy of Education (NAE) and hosted JAMB, 2nd Technical Committee meeting with admission officers from all the Tertiary Institutions in the country in attendance.
The Provost disclosed that the College had witnessed great infrastructural development as new lecture theatres, workshops and laboratories had been added. Also gracing the landscape of the College are: buildings like the Micro-Teaching Lab, ICT Resource Centre with 600 computer workstations, the Computer-Based Test seminar room with 200 PCs came online two years ago.
The school of Social Sciences Building and the School of General Studies building were completed not long ago. The laboratories, workshops, library, College Website also received face-lift. Attracted to the school was a bridge across Nworie River to assist in the expansion of the College done by the Ecological Unit of the Federal Government.
She used the opportunity to call on the federal government to uplift the college to a university status.
From the Minister
The Minister, Mallam Adamu Adamu was represented by the Minister of State for Education, Prof Anthony Anwuka. In his address he described college as a symbol of excellence of its founding fathers and in recent times had re-established itself as the primus inter pares in the consciousness of government and people of Nigeria, particularly with regard to teacher education.
While congratulating the graduands, Adamu said he was certain that they had been properly grounded in the best pedagogy to be able to enhance the teaching-learning processes which Nigeria needed to effect the desired change in the education sector.
He urged them to be of good conduct and spirit even in the wake of challenging times in the country, adding that having passed through a school of this status, they should diligently put what they learnt into practice.
Conferment of Fellowships /Prizes
The Fellowship of Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education was conferred on the following personalities; Chief Gregory Ibe, for the Entrepreneurship category,Professor Nicholas Adah, for the Leadership category and Nneoma Theresa Okonkwo, for the education category.
Prizes were given to best graduating students for 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 in the regular, sandwich, evening, weekend NCE and Professional Diploma in Education categories.
