The Federal College of Education (FCE), Kontagora, Niger has plans to upgrade the institution to a Federal University of Education.
Prof. Faruk Haruna, the Provost of the institution, made the disclosure in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria in Kontagora on Sunday.
“There is need to rebrand Federal College of Education, Kontagora, for effective teaching and learning.
“In a short time from now, Federal College of Education, Kontagora, will be upgraded to a university of education,” he said.
Haruna, who expressed optimism that the college would be upgraded soon said that the institution had all it takes to be elevated to the status of a university of education.
“The take off will be determined by the Federal Government after the passage of the bill by the Senate and concurrence by the House of Representatives.
“Already, the Senate has passed the bill.
“We have the land mass, quality and number of staff and students,” he said.
According to him, the college has a staff strength of 594, non-academic and academic of 320 and 274 respectively.
“The institution also has 32 departments with 5, 296 students in National College of Education (NCE) I to III.
“Recently, 10 infrastructural projects worth over N1 billion were completed and they are waiting to be inaugurated by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund),’’ he revealed to NAN.
Haruna said that in spite of the projects, the institution has infrastructural challenges including inadequate students hostels and network of roads.
Also, Mr Samson Samari, President of the Students Union Government (SUG) of the college, commended the provost and management of the college for improving the standard of the institution.
He urged TETFund to complete many abandoned projects at the college.