... Provost appointed Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor
By Favour Afunanya
President Ahmed Bola Tinubu has finally approved the conversion of Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, AIFCE to Alvan Ikoku University of Education.
President Tinubu also announced the immediate take-off of the institution as well as the appointment of its new management team including the reappointment of the Provost of the erstwhile College, Dr. Mrs. Stella Ngozi Lemchi to Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor, (Administration) of the University.
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Speaking to newsmen in her office on Tuesday, Dr. Lemchi appreciated Mr. President, Minister for Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) Executive Secretary, Prof. Paulinus Chijioke Okwelle, and Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma for their support commitment that resulted in the eventual conversion.
While calling for continued support and collaboration from all and sundry towards the growth and development of the institution, Dr. Lemchi reiterated the commitment of the new management to continually drive the institution to excellence.
She said, "on 30th October 2023, the Federal Ministry of Education conveyed the final conversion and take-off approval of the Alvan Ikoku University of Education by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
"The same letter also announced the appointment of the Provost of the erstwhile College as the Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) of the University, while other Principal Officers of the erstwhile College are to continue to discharge their duties in acting capacity until substantive Principal Officers of the University are appointed."
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She continued, "In its 60 years of existence, this institution has navigated the entire landscape of teacher education and has produced top-level manpower for the Nigerian economy, not only in the educational sector but equally in the political, administrative and industrial sectors of the Nation.
"The entire University Community remains grateful to successive administrations of the Federal Government of Nigeria for identifying the excellence embedded in the institution, thereby positioning us for this well-deserved status where we can begin to immediately contribute more significantly to the excellence of the nation’s education sector.
"We thank especially the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for the prompt final approval for immediate take-off of the University.
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"We remain grateful to the Federal Ministry of Education (FME), under the inspiring leadership of the Honourable Minister for Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, for being there for us all through the long journey, providing guidance and objective assessment and recommendations on the true status of our institution.
"We appreciate the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) ably led by the Executive Secretary, Prof. Paulinus Chijioke Okwelle, for nurturing the former College of Education onto its enviable height and pedigree, all through our days under the Commission.
"In a very special way, we would like to appreciate the unrelenting efforts of His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Hope Odidika Uzodimma, (Onwa), the Governor of Imo State for his dedicated commitment to the final realization of the University status of our institution."
"Finally, we would like to thank the Four House Unions, Staff and students of the institution who laboured over the years to entrench the quality of excellence, for keeping faith, and especially, to our almost 400 PhD holders for refusing to succumb to the constant poaching by sister Universities. We are all indeed heroes of this attainment." she added.
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