By Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti
The Federal College of Education Ilawe Ekiti today, 13th November 2022 formally commenced operations with
funfare when the Ilawe community and State government formally handed over a temporary site and permanent site of the tertiary institution to the Federal Government delegation and the Principal Officers of the College .
Speaking at the occasion, the Alawe of Ilawe-Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Ajibade Alabi , AFUNTADE1,described the occasion as a fulfilment of a great dream.
According to him “this is a dream come true despite all the vicissitudes”
Welcoming the delegation from the Federal Ministry of Education Abuja, the Ekiti State ministry of education as well as all Principal Officers of the Federal College of Education today to the colourful occasion.
Oba Alabi who led scores of his subjects that trooped out amid drumming and dancing to the formal takeover of the sites by the federal government delegation appreciated President Bola Tinubu for approving the immediate take off of the Federal College of Education.
While eulogising former President Mohammadu Buhari for giving the initial approval adding that the struggle by Ilawe community to have the College began in 2016 through series of letters and memoranda to the federal government from him, Alawe, a former Chairman of Ekiti Traditional Rulers Council, expressed gratitude to all those who stood by him and the community in the realisation of the Federal College of Education in Ilawe promising that the community would reciprocate the gesture by throwing her support in whatever way possible to the government of the day.”
Oba Alawe in a statement signed by his Media Adviser, High Chief Ajibade Olubunmi added that, “As a grateful community, we will continue to support all the people oriented programmes of the federal and state governments” , an elated Oba Alabi stressed .
The leader of the federal government delegation, who is the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Andrew Adejo, said the establishment of the school was a practical demonstration of the FG’s determination to expand educational opportunities, and invest in the training of future educators.
Represented by Dr U.C Uba, the permanent secretary thanked the State government for it’s support, saying making the institution become a reality by President Tinubu, was an evidence of his Renewed Hope Agenda.
The Provost of the institution, Dr Ikuejube Ajigbade, explained that the College of Education was a special one, and a two in one school, as it would serve as both a College of Education and University, awarding both NCE Certificate and Degrees because
“the college would run courses in both Education, Sciences and Technology, while plans are on to also to extend the trend to vocational and allied studies, in order to produce job opportunities for our teaming youhs. ”
The Ekiti State Governor, represented on the occasion, by the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Dr Kofoworola Aderiye, congratulated the Ilawe community for the siting of the institution in the area.
Aderiye, whose speech was delivered by the Permanent Secretary, Teaching Service Commission,(TESCOM), Ekiti, Mr Michael Omolayo, commended the community for already making available, a total of 107 hectares of land for it’s permanent site, saying the site had been surveyed by state Surveyor-General, for further necessary action.
He Said that the erstwhile facility of the Government Girls College, Ilawe Ekiti, which was built by the Federal Government, had also been released for the take-off of the Federal College of Education, pending the adequate development of the permanent site .
Photos:
