The Federal Government has inaugurated the recently upgraded Federal University of Education, Pankshin in Plateau.
The federal government had in 2022 approved the upgrading of the institution from a college to a university of education.
This followed a Bill sponsored by the Mr Yusuf Gagdi, representing Pankshin/Kanke/ Kanam Federal Constituency of Plateau.
The Bill was later passed by the National Assembly and assented to by former President Mohammadu Buhari.
Speaking at the event, Dr Cecilia Ubah, who led the Assessment Committee to the institution, described the move as ”a step in the right direction”.
Ubah, who is the Director, Colleges of Education in the Federal Ministry of Education, said that the upgraded institution would be a breeding ground for innovations.
She further explained that the asessment team comprised of officials of the the federal ministry of education, National Universities Commission (NUC) and the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE)
”We are here to first unveil the upgraded college of education to a federal university of education.
”Secondly, to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the exiting facilities with the aim of providing government with accurate and reliable information toward the successful take-off of the university.
”So far we have seen that there is need for improvement on the infrastructure and additional manpower to enable the institution compete favourably with other universities in the country
‘So, we solicit the cooperation of everybody to produce a valid document that will quickly attract the attention of the federal government to this institution,” she said.
Earlier, Dr Funsho Olumoko, Chairman, Governing Council of the institution, thanked the federal government for the upgrade, adding that the transition would enhance teaching and learning.
He called on the host community to protect the facilities on ground in the upgraded institution and the ones that will come thereafter.
He called on the management of the institution to prioritise quality teaching and reserach aimed at solving existing and emerging societal problems.
On his part, Gagdi, who sponsored the bill for the upgrade thanked the federal government for approving and ensuring the smooth transition of the institution from a collage to a university.
The lawmaker, an alumni of the institution, particularly thanked President Bola Tinubu for approving N10 billion through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), as matching grant for the new university.
He appealed to the state government and all critical stakeholders, particularly the host community to support the university to stand the taste of time.
Gov. Caleb Mutfwang, reprsentated by Mr Gabriel Dewan, the Speaker of the Plateau House of Assembly, promised to support the institution in all ramifications toward the advancement of education in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the institution which began in 1974 as an Advanced Teachers’ College, later became College of Education and now university of education.
