Cross River State Governor, Senator Prince Bassey Otu, has pledged to support efforts to upgrade the Federal College of Education (FCE), Obudu, to a Federal University of Education, assuring that his administration would work with the state’s representatives in the National Assembly to advance the proposal.
Otu, represented by his deputy, Rt. Hon. Dr. Peter Odey, gave the assurance on Wednesday when the Chairman of the 8th Governing Council of the College, Hon. Abdullahi Ahmed, led a delegation on a courtesy visit to the State Government at the Government House, Calabar.
The governor welcomed the visit, describing it as an opportunity to renew cooperation between the College and the state government. He noted that such engagement had not taken place in many years and commended the institution for its longstanding contributions to teacher education in Cross River State and Nigeria.
“We are delighted to receive the Governing Council of the Federal College of Education, Obudu. This visit provides an opportunity to renew our relationship and strengthen collaboration between the College and the Cross River State Government,” Otu said.
The governor noted that the College had been running bachelor’s degree programmes in affiliation with the University of Calabar since 2011, demonstrating its experience in degree-level teacher training and readiness for further academic advancement. He also highlighted the absence of a university of education in the South-South geopolitical zone, noting that other geopolitical zones already had such institutions.
“The College has come of age and has demonstrated the capacity to take on greater responsibilities in teacher education. Its upgrade to a university of education would be a welcome development, particularly as the South-South geopolitical zone does not have such an institution,” the governor stated.
While acknowledging that the conversion or renaming of a federal institution fell within the purview of the Federal Government, Otu assured the delegation that his administration would work with the state’s representatives in the National Assembly to advance the proposal. He also pledged to advocate for the institution to be named after the late former Senate President, Joseph Wayas, as either Joseph Wayas College of Education or Joseph Wayas University of Education, depending on the outcome of the proposed upgrade.
Earlier, Ahmed appealed to the state government to assist the College with solar power installations to address unreliable electricity supply and reduce the high cost of diesel used to power its facilities.
“Reliable electricity is essential to the effective running of the College. Support for solar power installations would help us address the challenges of irregular electricity supply and the high cost of diesel,” the Council Chairman said.
He also requested government support for the provision of buses to improve transportation between the College’s campuses in Obudu and Obanliku Local Government Areas, explaining that improved mobility would facilitate the movement of staff and students and enhance coordination between the two locations.
Ahmed expressed confidence that the proposed conversion would become a reality with the support and advocacy of the state government. He said the College was counting on Otu’s commitment and the cooperation of the state’s representatives in the National Assembly to help realise the ambition of establishing a Federal University of Education in Obudu.
The Council Chairman also conveyed the goodwill of the Governing Council, management, staff and students to Governor Otu, wishing him success in his forthcoming re-election bid.
Ahmed was accompanied on the visit by the Provost of the College, Dr. Richard Ugbaha Utubaku; the Registrar, Dr. Evans Osakwe Ikenya; Navy Captain Charles I. Ogwa (Rtd.); Dr. Mohammed Maru; and other members of the Governing Council.
By Ukongikwen Adie
