Following the recent upgrade of the Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education (AIFCE), Owerri, Imo State to Alvan Ikoku University of Education (AIUE), by the Federal Government, the authorities of the institution have assured the public of smooth transition from a college to a university.....CONTINUE READING
The management also spoke on its decision to stop further admission of students into the National Certificate of Education (NCE), programme.In a briefing, yesterday, the acting Deputy Vice -Chancellor (Administration), Dr. Ngozi Lemchi, said the decision was in line with the new status as a University of Education approved by President Bola Tinubu, recently.
Lemchi, who was the Provost of the institution prior to its upgrade, however, clarified that the NCE students already admitted before the upgrade was approved by the President on June 2, would be tutored and graduated accordingly.
The university don informed that the institution under her watch had written to the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), to include the institution’s academic details in the board’s brochure and website with necessary recognition accorded it.
She urged students already admitted, both undergoing studies at both NCE and degree levels, to be hopeful of acquiring the required world standard academic knowledge from the university, assuring that they would equip them to the job market.
While expressing gratefulness to President Tinubu; the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman; the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, among others, pledged to actualise the collective dream of the college becoming a university.”
She recalled how the 60-year institution metamorphosed from Advanced Teachers’ Training College in 1963, to full College of Education in 1973 and the present status.
According to her, the institution, in affiliation to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, was authorised to award Bachelor of Education in 1981, adding that the earlier Edict in 1973, was repealed by amended, to be the 21st College of Education in Nigeria, informing that in conjunction with the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), Diploma of Education programme, among other programmes were put in place.
The journey to greatness of the institution recorded a leap in 2015, when the then Federal Government under Dr. Goodluck Jonathon, upgraged it and three other institutions to a university, regretting that when another administration succeeded Jonathan, the status was reversed and put on hold.
A re-upgrade, Lemchi, disclosed was recorded by the approval made by Tinubu, in June 2, followed by the real take -off instruments issued and statuses of the principal officers issued by the Federal Ministry of Education in October 20, 2023.
“You can see that we have come a long way. It has been a very long walk,’’ she expressed.
