By Oyinkansayo Wole-Bodunde.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially upgraded the College of Education in Pankshin, Plateau State, to a Federal University of Education.
This upgrade was approved in 2022, following a bill sponsored by Yusuf Gagdi, a member of the Federal House of Representatives. The bill was passed by the National Assembly and signed into law by former President Mohammadu Buhari.
Cecilia Ubah, Director of Colleges of Education in the Federal Ministry of Education, hailed the upgrade as “a step in the right direction.” She noted that the institution will become a hub for innovation and its assessment team, comprising officials from the Federal Ministry of Education, National Universities Commission, and National Commission for Colleges of Education, aims to provide accurate information for the university’s successful takeoff.
According to Ubah, the team’s assessment revealed the need for improved infrastructure and additional manpower to enable the institution to compete with other universities. Funsho Olumoko, Chairman of the Governing Council, thanked the Federal Government for the upgrade, emphasizing its potential to enhance teaching and learning. He urged the host community to protect the institution’s facilities and encouraged the management to prioritize quality teaching and research.
Yusuf Gagdi, the bill’s sponsor and an alumnus of the institution, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government and President Bola Tinubu for approving a N10 billion matching grant through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund for the new university. This significant development is expected to boost education in the region and provide expanded academic programs and research capabilities.
