Stakeholders in the Education Sector have called for reforms to improve facilities, working conditions and institutional leadership in Colleges of Education to enhance the quality of teacher education in Nigeria.
The call was made by the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) and former Senate President, Senator Pius Anyim, and others at a dinner organised by the commission in Abuja to celebrate leadership and impact in teacher education.
The event, themed “Champions of Education: An Evening of Celebration of Leadership and Impact on Teacher Education,” focus on the implementation of the dual mandate for Colleges of Education.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of the NCCE, Dr Angela Ajala, said the quality of Nigeria’s education system depended significantly on the quality of its teachers, stressing that the performance of teacher-training institutions remained critical to national development.
Ajala said the occasion provided an opportunity to recognise leaders whose commitment and dedication had contributed to institutional progress and the advancement of teacher education.
“Tonight is more than an award ceremony. It is an opportunity to acknowledge leadership that drives institutional progress and reaffirm our collective commitment to excellence,” she said.
She noted that provosts occupied a strategic position in shaping the future of education, adding that their responsibilities extended beyond administrative duties to include human capacity development and the preparation of future generations.
The NCCE executive secretary urged heads of Colleges of Education to embrace courageous leadership, effective management, accountability and innovative approaches to institutional administration to strengthen their institutions and improve performance.
In his remarks, the chairman of the occasion and former Senate President, Senator Pius Anyim, stressed the importance of strengthening the teaching profession, noting that his personal experiences had shaped his early ambition to become either a teacher or a pastor.
Anyim said the gathering reflected the importance attached to the teaching profession and the need to create an environment in which teachers could perform their duties effectively.
“Our gathering tonight is because people are proud to be teachers,” he said.
He warned against neglecting teacher education, arguing that the future of Nigeria’s education system depended on the strength and quality of its teachers.
“Teacher education is a matter of serious concern that we must not neglect,” he said.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, represented by the Director of Colleges of Education, Dr Uchenna Cecilia Uba, commended the Executive Secretary of NCCE, Dr Angela Ajala, for initiatives aimed at supporting teachers. She said effective implementation of the dual mandate would provide an opportunity to reposition colleges of education and improve teacher education in Nigeria.
On his part, President and Group Managing Director of GOSIMA, Dr Gideon Osi, said strengthening colleges of education would positively impact thousands of classrooms across the country.
He described support for education as a responsibility rather than charity, pledging to expand scholarship opportunities through his Foundation to support deserving students, alongside mentorship and leadership development programmes.
The dinner also featured awards recognising outstanding contributions to teacher education across three categories.