As the long awaited accreditation exercise of the Oyo State College of Education, Lanlate took off on Monday, 18 December, 2023 at the College Conference Room, the Executive Secretary, National Commission of Colleges of Education (NCCE), Prof. Pauline Chijioke Okwalle, who was ably represented by the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics (NCCE), Alh. Garba Koko has assured the management and staff of the College that the Commission would continue to ensure that qualified teachers are produced by colleges of education.
Alh. Garba made this declaration at the opening ceremony of the accreditation exercise of the college.
In his address, he stated that the accreditation is a serious decision to arrive at having an appropriate and continuous existence of any college.
Alh. Koko further enumerated that the National Commission for Colleges of Education was established by Decree 13 of 17th January, as a completion of a tripod of excellence in the supervision of higher education in the country.
He added that the commission has continuously pursued goals of quality assurance in teacher education since inception.
He reiterated that the panelists were representatives of the six Geo-Political Zones in Nigeria.
He said that challenges have been identified which includes dwindling enrolment of students, which is key to colleges and the NCCE.
His words: “There is need for survival of enrolment of students and that the NCCE will see how the government will encourage teacher education.
“The act of establishing the NCCE should be reviewed to accommodate a template for admission and the possibility of running NCE and degree programmes concurrently.”
Earlier in his speech, the Acting Provost of the College, Mr. Michael Olukayode Falade said that Lanlate which is one of the seven towns in Ibarapa is a place to be because of its unique natures.
He said the town once hosted a campus of old Oyo State College of Education, Ilesa before the rationalisation exercise of the Campuses of the College of Education in 1985 before it was reopened as a campus of Oyo State College of Education, Oyo in 2002 by the Late Lamidi Adesina-led administration.
According to him, the college became autonomous on April 25, 2015 when the then Executive Governor of Oyo State, Late Senator Isiaq Abiola Ajimobi signed the law establishing the College of Education, Lanlate, Oyo State while it was renamed as Oyo State College of Education, Lanlate, by the 9th State House of Assembly under the able leadership of the Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde on 22 September, 2020.
While calling for cooperation, the Provost expressed his sincere gratitude to the Governor for his kind gesture towards the college.
Meanwhile, the Chairman, Governing Council of the College, Group Captain Dr. Bisi Ojebola (rtd) appreciated the NCCE team and panelists.
He expressed his delight in the team’s effort in assessment of the college’s facilities.
