By Michael Nnebife
The Provost, Federal College of Education (Technical), Umunze, in Orumba South Local Government Area, Anambra State, Prof Theresa Okoli, has advised newly admitted students of the institution, to learn employable skills that would make them job creators upon graduation.
The Provost gave the advice during the 35th 13th Joint Matriculation for NCE, Degree and PGE students of the College, on Friday, 26th April, 2024.
She said, ‘The College is guided by the motto, “To Educate for Self Reliance”.
‘This informs the strong emphasis laid on entrepreneurship, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), technical and vocational skills.
‘In addition to academic programme, we encourage our students to learn employable skills that would make them job creators on completion of their various programmes,’ the Provost said.
‘Acquisition of ICT skills is compulsory for students in this College. Digital Revolution in the world today is ICT-driven, and all students are expected to join this Champions’ League.
‘The College encouraged the formation of Google Developer Students Club, with Chukwuemeka Esther Chidimma as Google Ambassadors in the College.
‘This Google Club encourages students to explore the vast opportunities offered by ICT.
‘It is heartwarming to note that several students of this College have keyed in and are doing exploits in the ICT World,’ Prof Okoli said.
Okoli, who also recalled the numerous achievements the College had recorded so far, said that the College’s library, which she described as user-friendly for students, was rated among the largest in the South East Zone, with solar-powered electricity.
According to her, many students of the College had won federal government scholarships in the past.
She stated that the College also keyed into the Federal Government’s Students Loan Scheme to widen access to tertiary education.
Okoli assured that the College would continue to collaborate with the Federal Government for full implementation of the Students’ Loan Scheme, advising those that applied for the loan to be patient as the government was working out modalities for its implementation.
She however, warned both the fresh and the old students to avoid like plague, fraudulent activities, such as yahoo yahoo and get-rich-quick syndrome, as well as examination malpractices.
In his address, the Vice-Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Prof Charles Esimone, congratulated the matriculating students on their admission into the College, which, he said, was a rare opportunity and great privilege they should not only be thankful to God for, but also guide jealously.
‘Here, an opportunity is presented to you to gain relevant and effective skills that will enable you to become employers of labour whereby you will not just get educated, but also educate others and provide a means of livelihood for them.
‘This is an institution that gears towards excellence. All the facilities you need to excel are available in this institution; therefore, pay attention to all you are told to do, so that you would graduate on top,’ the Vice-chancellor urged the students.
Prof Esimone, who was represented in the ceremony by the Dean, Faculty of Education, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Prof Vivian Nwogbo, commended the Provost for the facilities and infrastructural development the College was witnessing.
For her part, the Anambra State Commissioner for Education, Prof Ngozi Chukwuma-Udeh, applauded the Management of the College for its academy activities, which, she noted, were satisfactory.
Prof Chukwuma-Udeh, represented by a Director in the State Education Ministry, Mrs Oyibo Alor, said that the Anambra State Government, through its Ministry of Education, monitored the federal institutions in the state as regards their compliance with the rules and regulations of the national bodies for quality assurance.
‘There is no doubt about the quality of education imparted to the students by this College. The state government is satisfied with the teaching and learning going on in this College,’ the Commissioner said.
Congratulating the matriculating students, the Commissioner advised them to imbibe a constant reading culture and take an active participation in practical work, so as to be self-reliant upon graduation.
Speaking with newsmen shortly after the ceremony, some of the matriculants, who included Master Michael Okolie; Master Promise Nlukokwu; Miss Mercy Mgbi; among others, expressed delight to be part of the ceremony as students of the College, and pledged to take their studies seriously so that they would graduate successfully and make their parents proud.
Presentation of the matriculants by the Deans of the College to the Provost for formal admission into student membership of the College was among the major highlights of the ceremony.
