The Provost Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka, Lagos, Dr. Abdul-Wahab Azeez has made a case to the management of the University of Benin(UNIBEN) to increase the number of students for its affiliate degree programmes with the college.
Dr. Azeez states this in his welcome address during the 2022/2023 session matriculation exercise for the admission of 249 students into the various affiliate degree programmes run by both institutions.
The Provost called for urgent attention to encourage more candidates to seek enrollment in teacher education and for Colleges of Education and Universities that offer education courses to increase students’ quota to train more teachers to fill existing vacancies.
The Provost rejoiced with the new students for being among the lucky few offered the opportunity of acquiring a Bachelor of Science Degree or Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education from the University of Benin, in affiliation with the Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka.
According to him, 87 students were matriculated for various programmes in 100 Level, while 162 were admitted as Direct Entry Students making a total of 249 for the 2021/2022 academic session.
He assured the students of quality learning as the College and the University boast of focused and committed lecturers and urged the students to reciprocate the same by making judicious use of the faculty and learning infrastructure available at the College.
“This is a pathway to your academic excellence and development. Our academic and non-teaching staff are well qualified. You will derive maximum benefits from the various courses and programmes as religiously taught by our academic staff,” he added.
Prof. Lillian Salami, Vice-Chancellor, University of Benin (UNIBEN), encouraged the new students to be good ambassadors of the institution and their families, saying the acronym ‘UNIBEST’ was bagged as a result of its reputation for always being the best at everything.
Prof. Salami, represented by Prof. Kingsley Omorogiuwa, Dean of the Faculty of Education implored them to be determined, diligent and resilient in the acquisition of various academic endeavours as the primary aim of coming to school.
“On behalf of the Governing Council, Management, Staff and Students of
this great institution, the University of Benin, I warmly welcome you all to
this year’s Matriculation ceremony for the 2022/2023 academic session.
“Let me formally congratulate our freshmen and women who have been offered provisional admission into this great Institution. It is worthy of note that the college is an affiliate of the great University of Benin.
“Today’s ceremony conforms with the time-honoured tradition of the college like most tertiary institutions all over the world. Its uniqueness is derived from the fact that it marks the formal admittance of freshmen and women into the community of persons in a quest for knowledge and culture.
“It is also an integral part of your studentship and the beginning of
your educational career. I do earnestly hope that you will all be loyal and
true to the oath that you are about to take. That all the matriculants
present here today are experiencing a feeling of immense joy and
happiness cannot be said to be an understatement. This observation is
predicated on the fact that your journey to this place started many years ago, Knowing that thousands of others who competed with you for
admission did not make it eventually, makes those of you here to be
amongst the privileged few.”
The VC urged the matriculants to consider their admission as
one rare opportunity to be grateful and a privilege that must be protected and guarded jealously throughout learning.
