Yola, Adamawa State – The Adamawa State government is doubling down on its commitment to educational excellence, with Deputy Governor Professor Kaletapwa George Farauta spearheading a vigorous drive to ensure all courses across its tertiary institutions achieve full accreditation.
State's Firm Stance on Educational Excellence
Professor Farauta made this resolute declaration on Monday while hosting a high-level accreditation team from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) at her office. The team's crucial visit is focused on meticulously evaluating and certifying various programs offered at the esteemed College of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Ganye.
Addressing the delegation, led by Dr. Fatima Kabir Umar, the Deputy Governor unequivocally stated that the administration of Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri views the upgrading of educational institutions to meet stringent national standards as a paramount priority. This commitment is not merely administrative but a foundational pillar of their governance.
Key Programs Under Review for Accreditation
A comprehensive list of ten vital courses at the College of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Ganye, have been submitted for this crucial accreditation process:
- Animal Health Production
- Agricultural Technology
- Agricultural and Bio-Environmental Engineering
- Public Administration
- Forestry Technology
- Fisheries Production Technology
- Home and Rural Economics
- Account and Audit
- Science Laboratory Technology
- Computer Science
Empowering Graduates for National and Global Competitiveness
Professor Farauta passionately articulated the administration's rationale, emphasizing that the certification of academic programs has been a top agenda item since their inception. She highlighted a critical concern: unaccredited courses severely hobble the competitiveness of graduates in the broader job market.
“You cannot produce graduates from unaccredited courses and expect them to compete favourably with their peers nationwide. This is why we have taken deliberate steps to ensure that all programmes meet required standards,” she asserted, underscoring the direct link between accreditation and graduate employability.
She further stressed that education remains a core focus of the Fintiri-led administration, driven by the vision of producing a cadre of competent, certified graduates who are not only academically proficient but also equipped to contribute meaningfully and innovatively to society's progress.
NBTE's Mandate and Collaborative Vision
Earlier in the meeting, the NBTE team leader, Dr. Fatima Kabir Umar, elucidated the purpose of their visit, explaining it as an integral part of NBTE’s statutory mandate to accredit programs within tertiary institutions. She confirmed the evaluation of the ten courses submitted by the college.
Dr. Umar reaffirmed the board’s unwavering commitment to fostering an environment where institutions consistently produce graduates who can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with their global counterparts, making substantial contributions in their respective professional fields. This collaborative effort between the state government and NBTE is set to elevate Adamawa's educational landscape, ensuring a brighter future for its students and the state as a whole.