By Philip Yatai
Dr Mariya Mahmoud, Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has called on the management of FCT College of Education, Zuba, to prioritise solution-driven research that addresses societal needs.
Mahmoud made this call at the college’s third combined convocation ceremony in Abuja.
She stressed that demand-driven research would serve society better and improve human lives.
Mahmoud also advised the college to develop a rich and all-encompassing curriculum that would be locally relevant and globally competitive.
“By adapting a curriculum that drives meaningful change, the college would be able to produce sound graduates that would be relevant, marketable, and globally competitive,” she said.
She also urged the college management to continually adapt to the evolving demands of the modern world by repositioning itself through staff training and retraining.
She highlighted the potential of information and communication technology in teaching, noting that the approach would foster impactful education and promote sustainable development.
She said that the FCT Administration was aware of the infrastructural deficits in its education sector, adding that the administration has made deliberate and sustained efforts to address the challenge.
She said that the administration had so far spent more than N13 billion on the ongoing school renovation and rehabilitation program.
The minister congratulated the graduates on completing their courses and programs, charging them to apply the knowledge, expertise, and skills they acquired to change the world.
Mahmoud commended the college management for maintaining industrial harmony between staff and student unions, assuring the college of FCTA’s continued support to contribute positively to national development.
Earlier, the provost of the college, Dr. Sule Mundi, said that a total of 6,068 graduates, comprising 4,625 regular and 1,443 part-time programs, have been found worthy both in character and learning for the award of the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE).
Mundi appealed for adequate funding to enable the college to expand its programs and introduce technical and vocational training such as automobile technology, building, and electrical and electronics, among others.
He stressed that such courses were critical to entrenching self-reliance at the basic and post-basic schools.
The highpoint of the event was the conferment of fellowship awards and certificates of excellence to the best graduating students.