The National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) has pledged its support for the proposed establishment of 10 new Colleges of Education in Nigeria. The Commission made its position known during a public hearing on the bills, urging the House of Representatives to prioritize states that currently lack such institutions.
Speaking at the hearing, NCCE Executive Secretary, Prof. Paulinus Okwelle, revealed that 27 states already have Colleges of Education. He advocated for the new institutions to be established in states without any, including Bayelsa, Kwara, Taraba, Jigawa, Ondo, Plateau, Niger, Kaduna, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and Imo.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, represented by Deputy Chief Whip Hon. Ibrahim Isiaka, emphasized the need for expanded access to education. He noted that Nigeria currently has 205 federal, state, and privately-owned Colleges of Education. However, with a population of about 230 million, over 60% of whom are under 24 years old, the demand for education far exceeds the current supply.
Hon. Adamu Tanko, Chairman of the Committee on Federal Colleges of Education and a sponsor of the bills, highlighted the critical role of education in national development. “Education is the foundation of any nation’s progress, and expanding access to quality teacher training is essential for our future,” he stated.
Other sponsors of the bills, including traditional rulers, echoed the importance of establishing more Colleges of Education to address the growing demand for qualified teachers and improve educational outcomes nationwide.
The 10 proposed institutions include:
- Federal College of Education, Technical, Ile Ife
- Federal College of Education, Faskari, Katsina
- Federal College of Education, Oyin Akoko, Ondo State
- Federal College of Education, Ijesha, Lagos State
The NCCE’s endorsement underscores the urgency of addressing the shortage of educational institutions and ensuring equitable access to teacher training across the country.
