By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu
Dr Wahab Azeez, Provost, Federal College of Education (FCE) (Technical), Akoka, has expressed determination to do his best to put the country on progressive and accelerated speed in Technical Vocational Education.
Azeez made the remark recently while addressing newsmen on his reappointment as the FCE provost by the immediate past President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari.
According to him, there is a need to de-emphasise theoretical education, and to put technology, technical and vocational education on the front burner for the nation’s growth and development.
“Our main thrust since inception is that of providing technical and vocational education to students and empowering them with relevant entrepreneurial skills for the overall development of the nation.
“These objectives are captured in the Vision and Mission statements of the College with our core value being the training of knowledgeable, skilled and self-reliant technical teachers, worthy in character and learning.
“It is worthy to note that our dear country is in dire need of intervention in technical, vocational areas of training.
“We are determined to put the nation on progressive and accelerated speed as far as Technical Vocational Education is concerned.
“We, however, need to build our infrastructural base and train our personnel to save the country a large sum of capital flight expended on training of students abroad,” he added.
According to the reappointed provost, during his first tenure, the college endeavoured to expand the frontiers of academic programmes by introducing Marketing Education and Entrepreneurship Education in the School of Business Education.
“All our courses have received full accreditation by our regulatory agency, National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) at the last accreditation exercise carried out in the College.
“Also, arrangements have been concluded for another affiliation with the Lagos State University (LASU) to run some other programmes on part-time basis leading to the award of Bachelor Degrees in Science, Vocational-Technical and Business Education Programmes.
“Under my Administration, the College has demonstrated the relevance of public/private partnership in education by establishing two Directorates.
“The directorates are: the Centre for Vocational, Technical and Entrepreneurship Development (CeVTED) and the Centre for Endowment, Development, Advancement and Alumni Relationship (CEDAAR).”
Azeez added that the college administration had continued to give adequate attention to protection of lives and property on campus, which had contributed to peace and stability over the years.
“We have also made significant efforts at strengthening the security architecture already put in place which has given us great reward in our fight against cultism.
The provost said further that many of its academic staff were currently benefiting from the Federal Government’s TETFund provision for post-graduate studies in local and foreign universities.
He said that many had also attended seminars, national and international conferences with their academic papers/articles published in reputable journals.
Azeez disclosed that the year would be devoted to in-service training for non-teaching staff, adding that the present administration had instituted the holding of inaugural/exaugural lectures.
He said that this was to enable them compete favourably with other tertiary institution and be abreast of the happenings in the academic world.
The provost added that through TETFund annual intervention, the college’s infrastructure had been improved with the construction and furnishing of a 500-seater capacity lecture theatre.
This, he noted, was the first of its kind in the College in terms of capacity, design and facilities.
He added that the college had also constructed a two-story building for the Department of Fine and Applied Arts Education, and a two-story block of classrooms with offices amongst others.
“Despite the achievements enumerated above, lack of sufficient fund has remained a major problem militating against the realisation of the College objectives and goals on a larger scale never experienced in the past.
“The dwindling and intermittent delay of overhead costs have imposed immense challenges on the College. It is our sincere prayer and hope that the overhead costs will be adequately increased and released to enhance the smooth running of the College,”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Azeez is the 12th Provost of FCE (Technical), Akoka.
His re-appointment was recommended by the Governing Council led by Alhaji Adamu Muazu and Alhaji Adamu Adamu, former Minister of Education. (NAN)