Fides Media Living the Faith
. . Affirms Commitment to Education for Self Reliance; Warns Students against Cultism, Unruly Behaviour
By Ifeoma Ezenyilimba
A total of 2000 students, comprising degree, Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PDE), National Certificate in Education (NCE) and Sandwich students, were on March 22, 2019, admitted formally as students of Federal College of Education (Technical), Umunze, South East, Nigeria, on the occasion of the 30th NCE, 8th Degree and PDE Joint Matriculation Ceremony of the College.
In his address to mark the matriculation which was the first under the leadership of the current provost, the provost of the College, Dr. Tessy Okoli, noted that FCE (T), umunze which she described as College of the moment, has been living true to its motto of: To Educate for Self Reliance. She noted that the College had in its academic formation, emphasized on entrepreneurship, ICT, technical and vocational skills so as to equip the students with employable skills that would make them job creators after their academic programmes.
The provost maintained that FCE (T) Umunze had zero tolerance for cultism, examination malpractice, indecency and all forms of unruly behavior. She warned that any student caught in cult activities would face outright expulsion and prosecution by the relevant authorities.
Pointing out that the institution was a place of learning, Okoli advised students against truancy, but instead, to face their studies diligently, saying that learning required strict discipline. She maintained that 75% attendance to lectures by students was mandatory for all courses offered in the College.
Dr. Okoli, who is the first internally appointed provost of the College, commended the matriculating students for making it through the strict admission processes, and consequently gained admission into FCE (T), Umunze.
The provost, who graduated as the Best Student in Agric Department from Anambra State College of Education in 1988, urged the students to face their future with courage, and not to forget their little beginning, saying that the courageous step they took on their matric day would yield great benefits for them in future.
This was even as she enjoined the parents to participate actively in the Parents’ Management Forum (PMF), a platform created by the College to interact mutually with the parents.
Okoli, who is the 4th substantive provost of FCE(T), Umunze, thanked God for the growth of the College, which she said had been phenomenal since its inception. She expressed her delight that both the NCE and the degree programmed, offered in affiliation with Nnamdi Azkikwe University, Awka had full accreditation status from the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) and the National University Commission (NUC).
Speaking on the occasion, the Vice Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka, Professor Joseph Eberendu Ahaneku, FAS, who was represented by the Director, Affiliate Institute Affairs, Professor Patricia Mary Nkechi Esomonu, felicitated with the College on the successful matriculation ceremony.
Ahaneku congratulated the matriculating students, especially the degree students for gaining admission into NAU, which he said was one of the best and the most sought after universities in Nigeria.
The vice chancellor equally congratulated FCE (T), Umunze for meeting the affiliate institution requirements through having quality staff, adequate number of staff and adequate infrastructure in place. He noted that the university management had found the College good enough to host NAU students.
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary, NCCE, Professor Bappa-Aliyu Muhammadu, who was represented by the Director, Physical Planning, NCCE, Sir Jonathan Achumie, charged the students to be disciplined and do the right thing always so as to graduate in record time as technically balanced persons, who would be job creators.
In an interview one of the matriculating students, Chidiebere Ubasinachi of the Department of Early Childhood Education, said she felt elated to have gained admission into FCE (T), Umunze, which according to her, was a standard college. She pledged to do her best and abide by the rules of the institution as well as study diligently so as to excel.
