FG Lauds Iwo College of Education for Producing National Best Student
By Zeenat Sambo
The Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Tanko Sununu, has lauded the leadership of the Federal College of Education Iwo, Osun State for producing the best student in the country’s College of Education system.
He made this known on Friday at the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) 2024 International Teachers’ Day celebration and awards for the best students with the theme “Valuing Teachers’ Voices Towards Repositioning Teacher Education in Nigeria.”
While commending COEASU for the history-making event, he appreciated the newly established FCE Iwo for its exceptional leadership style.
The Minister assured that the Federal Government will grant scholarships to the students. He directed that their data be submitted to the Federal Scholarship Board while urging people to see teaching as a profession, not just an activity.
In September, COEASU organised its maiden national competition to identify the best students from all the Colleges of Education in each of the six geopolitical zones and nationwide. After rigorous examinations at designated centres in each geopolitical zone, Mubarak Latona of the FCE Iwo came first in Southwest. He then proceeded to compete with other winners from other zones and emerged as the national winner.
In promoting academic excellence, President of COEASU, Dr Smart Olugbeko said the union has awarded N3.5 million to six exceptional students, each from one of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
“Our Union has instituted a scholarship for the best student in the College of Education system in Nigeria. Through a transparent, objective, and externally coordinated process of examinations, we determined the best students in colleges of education within each zone, as well as the overall best among them.”
The awardees are Nwachukwu Chioma Ruth, best student in the North-Central zone from Nasarawa State College of Education, Akwanga; Musa Abdullahi Musa, best student in the North-East zone from Aminu Saleh College of Education, Azare, Bauchi; and Nusaiba Awwal Barau, best student in the North-West zone from Sa’adatu Rimi College of Education, Kumbotso, Kano State.
Others are Nwoha Johnson Obinna, best student in the South-East zone from Benjamin Uwajomogu State College of Education, Ihite Uboma, Imo State; Ezeanofu Chisom Miracle, best student in the South-South zone from Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba, Delta; and Latona Mubarak, best student in the South-West zone and overall best student in Nigeria from Federal College of Education, Iwo, Osun State.
Speaking at the occasion, Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges Education (NCCE), Professor Paulinus Chijioke, applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for assenting to the Colleges of Education Establishment Act in August, which granted the college of education system autonomy to award degrees in teacher education concurrently with the previous NCE.
The best student, Latona, further expressed gratitude to the Union and urged parents to enroll their children/wards in Colleges of Education, especially now that Dual-mandate (a programme that leads to the award of Nigeria Certificate in Education ‘NCE’ and Bachelor of Education ‘B.Ed.’ degree by Colleges of Education in Nigeria) is in action.
