Rabiu Omaku
The Inspection of projects and site seeing at the College Of Education Akwanga by the Fact Finding committee constituted by governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State if is anything to go by then the headship of the institution, Dr.. Rebbeca Isaac Umar deserved commendation for the paradigm shift she brought into the teachers training Institute.
Dr. Rebbeca when she assumed office in the last three years has turn around the fortune of the institution to reality by averting the perennial shortage of water through the reconstruction of reservoir opposite the convocation Square of the College.
The overhauling of the reservoir has to a greater measure curtailed the suffering of students,Another key area of interest was the construction of a 1,500 capacity convocation Square by the Provost,this are some of the Midas touch of the quintessential academician.
The core successes of Dr. Rebbeca from 2014 to date is never an exercise in futility with her amiable performance, she was appointed during the time the institution was in dire need of Savior.
A visit to the Library section of the College situated at the Joseph Gowmalk block was a commendation galore, inverter were provided by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund in the E-library of the institution.
Also there was an inverter in the cyber cafe which was the 2013 TETFUND intervention.
The institution can boost of the best Information Communication Technology (ICT) centre in the state accommodating over 100 students with her twin centres, the provost in an interview said electricity is never their hiccups with the presence of inverter in College.
26 Courses Gets Full Accreditation
The College Of Education Akwanga under the headship of Dr. Rebecca Isaac Umar succeeded in the accreditation of 26 courses while two courses secured an interim accreditation also.
The accredited courses for the degree programs include Arts and Science courses respectively.
The accreditation of degree courses the of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria Akwanga campus is a clear determination of the Provost to brought in new ground for academic activities to thrive.
Dr.Umar in an Interview with newsmen urged students with teaching carrier to utilize the opportunity of the degree awarding instead of going far away to neighboring states to acquire degree in education.
SCHOOL CLINIC
Sophisticated medical facilities like a functional X-ray machine and other devices are judiciously utilized by the management of the College Of Education Akwanga,the College made provisions for beds in the clinic,but more needed to be done.
Under the headship of Rebbeca Isaac Umar, the former Advance Teacher’s College, Akwanga now College Of Education has witnessed numerous achievement in the proper utilization of funds from TETFUND with the series of projects ranging from presidential and normal interventions.
The College can boost of tar access road network from hall 12 to the new Secondary Education Language Library.
Expended Over N6m IGR For The Reinstallation Of Language Library
The revelation by Dr Rebecca Isaac Umaru the provost College of Education Akwanga that the institution expended over N6m in the reinstallation of language library in the school was worthy of commendation.
The headship of the College said the amount was spent on the relocation of equipment, tiled the library as well supply ceiling fans.
Dr.Umar averred that the internally generated revenue was used for the building of 1,500 sitter Convocation Square, procured two Mikano generating plant at the administrative block.
Construction of 80,000 litter reservoir
This holistic approach has assisted in curbing the acute shortage of water that looms in the College.
Construction Of A Befitting Road Network
The College Of Education Akwanga under Dr. Rebbeca Isaac Umar can boost of constructing over 1.5km road network linking the school with the new structures built with funds from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund.
Total Overhauling Of Staff Secondary School
The existing Secondary School owned by the College has passed through total rejuvenation which includes roofing and the reconstruction of desk used by students.
Establishment Of Early Child Care Unit
Available records has shown that the state of “the art” Early Child Care remain the best if there is any in Nasarawa State,the provost asserted that the construction of the ECCU was from the intervention of TETFUND.
TETFUND Sponsored 48 For Master,30 For PHD In COE, Akwanga
The numerous beneficiaries of TETFUND scholarship and staff development in College Of Education, Akwanga can be attributed to the workaholic habit of the headship of the institution, Dr. Rebbeca Isaac Umar.
Available record from the office of the desk officer of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, College of Education, Akwanga uncovered that 78 staff benefitted from staff training Interventions of TETFUND from 2013-to date.
The information was made available by the desk officer, Benbela Madaki, the document revealed that 30 staff were accorded sponsorship for their Post Higher Diploma in their field of specialty.
In 2013 scholarship interventions 7 staff benefitted for both foreign and local scholarship, it further revealed that the total sum of N80m was spend on the sponsorship of 1 staff for foreign training while 6 are sponsored locally for their PHD.
The document hinted that 2 staff benefitted for master abroad and 23 sponsored locally for their master respectively bringing their number to 23 master including 7 staff in 2013-2014 bringing the entire number to 32.
It further unveiled that the sponsorship was allocated in 2013 but executed in 2014.
While 2014-2015 4 staff were sponsored for foreign training for their PHD and master 2014-2015 a whooping N23, 849,094 for Ph. D and N80m was released for 4 staff training and interventions for master 4 while local sponsorship is 7 bringing the while number to 15 beneficiaries.
In 2015-2016 the total N8, 361,924 was expended on 2 staff going for Ph.D ,2 sponsored abroad.
Again in 2015 interventions but executed in 2016 4 staff were trained.
N60m was released for the training of 5 staff,1 sponsored abroad for master and 4 study their Master’s program locally bringing their number to 7.
Available record has shown that 14 staff benefitted from Ph.D while 10 for Master’s program respectively bringing their number to 23 master including 7 staff in 2013-2014 bringing the entire number to 32.
It further unveiled that the sponsorship was allocated in 2013 but executed in 2014.
While in 2014-2015 4 staff were sponsored for foreign training for their Ph.D and master consuming a whooping N23, 849,094 for Ph.D and N80m was released for 4 staff training,4 staff went for master while local sponsorship is 7 bringing the whole number to 15 beneficiaries.
In 2015-2016 the total of N8, 361,924 was expended on 2 staff that went for Ph.D, 2 sponsored abroad.
Again in 2015 interventions but executed in 2016 as 4 staff were trained.
N60m was released for the training of 5 staff,1 sponsored abroad for master and 4 study their Master’s program locally bringing their number to 7.
Available record has shown that 14 staff benefitted from Ph.D while 10 for Master’s program respectively.
2017 no fewer than 24 staff benefitted from the benevolence of TETFUND, it was authoritatively gathered that 14 went for their Ph.D while 10 for Master’s program respectively.
The series of staff training interventions has helped in strengthening academic activities of the College.
Expended N48million Annually From IGR On Power Supply
The Public Relations Officer of the College Of Education Akwanga, Mustapha Ibrahim has revealed that the institution expended a whooping N48 million annually from the Internally Generated Revenue.
In an exclusive interview the PRO said the school paid a total of N48, 000,000 on power supply annually.
Needed over N20 million to facilitate supervision of TP
The Management of College of Education (COE) Akwanga, Nasarawa State says the institution needs over N20 million this year to facilitate supervision of students on Teaching Practice (TP).Jonathan Thani, Dean of Education in the college disclosed this in an interview with Newsmen in Akwanga Local Government Area of the state.
Thani in an interaction with Journalists disclosed that teaching practice is a six unit course which is a mandatory exercise and one of their most important activities in the college.
He added that students participate in this exercise from September every year to March the preceding year in Primary and Secondary Schools across the state.
He explained that in the past because the number of students was not much the college only spends about N10 million, but the money rise up this year due to increase in the number.
“Apart from this money which only takes care of the allowances of the supervisors, the college also provides booklet and stationaries.
“The money for the TP which is N2000 per every student is usually built up in the fees because it is not a free exercise.
“But because of the increased in the number this year from about 2000 to 5000, the management in due consultation with the student representatives aks the students pay N3000 extra,” he added.
Rebecca Umaru, Provost of the College said if supervisors were to go out 10 times during the TP exercise, it would cost them over N40 million.
She added that even with the extra pay from the students the management still augments in addition to the support from TETFund to ensure smooth running of TP exercise.
She also mentioned that monthly allocation of N108 million is not enough to pay full salaries of staff every month.
“We have to source for over N4 million every month to augment the monthly allocation to enable us pay full salaries of staff,” the Provost added.
She also commended Governor Umaru Al-Makura for supporting the institution with infrastructure among others to enable it produce world class graduates.
The Provost therefore said that, though the governor has done a lot to them as an institution but, like ‘Oliver Twist’ the college is appealing to the Chief executive to increase their allocation.
Shortage of Security Personnel A Major Setback
The institution is facing serious security challenges; the provost in an interview confided the acute shortage of security as a threat as students capitalized on the grim situation to destroy furniture in the lectures hall.
Impeccable source who pleaded anonymity said the provost hired outsiders for the clearing of bushes around the College to avert fire outbreak, it was gathered that about huge amount of money was released from the lean IGR.
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