Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider upgrading the Federal College of Education (FCE), Yola, to a Federal University of Education to strengthen teacher training and produce more qualified teachers for the country
Governor Fintiri made the appeal on Saturday during the institution’s 16th Combined Convocation Ceremony in Yola, where he was represented by his Deputy, Professor Kaletapwa Farauta
The Governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to educational development, stressing that the state remains focused on implementing policies aimed at improving access to quality education and working towards the 26 per cent budgetary allocation benchmark for education commonly associated with UNESCO
He noted that the administration has introduced several people-oriented policies to revitalise the education sector through increased funding, institutional strengthening and improved learning opportunities
According to him, the government has also made significant investments in Information and Communication Technology (ICT), introducing student-friendly programmes designed to equip young people with essential skills for a technology-driven economy
The Governor further highlighted initiatives targeting youth empowerment, including business grants, startup incubation programmes and mentorship opportunities
He disclosed that the state government had introduced the Adamawa State Teacher Recruitment, Deployment and Retention Policy to strengthen teacher education and align the state’s educational system with 21st-century demands
He consequently urged the institution to align its programmes with relevant education policies to enhance teacher training and professional development
Earlier, the Provost of FCE Yola, Mohammed Usman Degereji, disclosed that the institution graduated 3,555 students, comprising 1,818 from the 2024 academic session and 1,737 from 2025
He explained that the graduands had satisfied the academic and character requirements for the award of the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE)
Degereji encouraged educational institutions and other stakeholders to make effective use of the graduates’ skills and knowledge, noting that several had distinguished themselves through outstanding academic performance
He added that more than 200 academic staff members had participated in national and international conferences under his leadership as part of efforts to improve teaching standards and academic excellence
Also speaking, the Minister of Education, represented by Dr Uchenna Uba, Director of Colleges of Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to improving the welfare of education sector personnel.
She highlighted the Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund (TISSF), a Federal Government initiative designed to provide financial assistance and improve the welfare of staff in tertiary institutions