TETFUND: Imolites laud Imo Gov. for College of Education Enlistment

Imo Education Commissioner, Prof. (Noble Lady) Viola Adaku Onwuliri has commended Gov Emeka Ihedioha for the successful enlistment of Imo State College of Education, Ihitte Uboma as a Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund) Institution. She made this disclosure during a working visit to the College recently.
In her remarks, Prof. Onwuliri observed that prior to this new development, the immediate past administration had neglected the College and made no effort to secure it’s enlistment as a TETfund Institution.
She therefore eulogized Gov Ihedioha for his doggedness in securing the enlistment which she described as a monumental achievement. The Commissioner stated that the College which had suffered neglect under the past administration, has now recieved a new lease of life.
The professor who was highly elated with the new development, further assured the Management of the University that the Rebuild Imo Government won’t rest on its laurels. As she revealed that efforts were being made to also exploit more avenues of raising funds for the Institution, through other sources such as non-governmental organisations and foreign donors.
Prof Onwuliri reiterated the fact that education is a collective responsibility that shouldn’t be left for Government alone. Stressing that the plan to revamp the Institution is in top gear now that funds from the Federal Government are expected to augment funds set aside by the State, for the development of the College.
Speaking further, Prof Onwuliri said much work was required to bring the Institution to standard in the area of infrastructure. She also observed that the premises of the College is not large enough to contain Government’s infrastructural development and physical plan for the College.
As a result, the Education Czar, revealed that the Rebuild Imo Government was making conscious efforts to ensure that the College moves to a more befitting permanent site, as soon as practicable. She however called upon well meaning individuals and organizations to partner with the Government in the development of the Institution, in that regard.
She pointed out the fact that since Alvan Ikoku College of Education was taken over by the Federal Government in 2007, the State didn’t have a College of Education to call their own, until the inception of Imo State College of Education. Therefore, she made it clear that the Rebuild Imo Government was passionate about raising the standard of the College to the level of Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education and even higher.
In the same vein, the Provost of the College, Dr Chris Osuegbu while reacting to the report, praised Gov Ihedioha as the best thing to happen to Imo education. Hear him: “…Gov Ihedioha by ensuring the enlistment of Imo State College of Education as a TETfund Institution, has proven indeed that he is Mr. Performer. He talks less, and does much. That is what good leadership is all about”.
Also speaking on this development, a member of the Student’s Union Government, who doesn’t want his name on print, expressed gratitude to the Governor for restoring hope to Students of the Institution. The student who appeared very excited, further said that by virtue of the enlistment, the nagging problems of students’ accomodation would soon be a thing of the past. Since more funds could now be accessed for the construction of more hostels and classrooms in the College.
Several other citizens of Imo State have also lauded Gov Ihedioha’s gigantic achievements so far, in the education sector. Lending his voice to the chorus, a professor in Agriculture from the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Prof Dan Njoku also extolled Gov Ihedioha for ensuring the enlistment of the College as a TETfund Institution. Read his own words,
“… His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, deserves a big kudos for the enlistment of the Imo State College of Education as a TETfund Institution. It is not a mean fit, otherwise why couldn’t the immediate past administration achieve that? This development has further emphasized the need to have educated leaders with genuine passion for educational development, over and above semi-literate leaders with pretensious interest in education, whose only true mission in government is to enrich themselves and their families”.
Finally, the National Coordinator of Campaign for Good Governance and Accountability (CGGA), a non-governmental organisation canvassing for good governance, Comrade Nelson Iheme, also lauded the Governor for his remarkable achievements in the education sector within a brief period, which includes the enlistment of the College as a TETfund Institution.He expressed confidence that the education sector which had hitherto been setback by several years of misgovernance, would be fully revamped if this administration is given enough time, he opined.