The Speaker of the House of Representatives Mr Tajudeen Abbas says the demand for higher education in Nigeria exceeds the supply.
Mr Abbas made the remark at a public hearing on ten education bills in Abuja.
The Speaker said that the bills under consideration today reflect the House collective commitment as lawmakers in ensuring that every region of the country has equitable access to quality teacher education.
“The establishment of new Federal Colleges of Education will not only improve the training of professional teachers but will also foster educational development, create employment opportunities, and stimulate socio-economic growth in the host communities. The House recognizes the urgent need to expand access to quality teacher education, especially in underserved regions. These bills before the Committee today represent a significant step in ensuring equitable distribution of educational institutions, fostering national integration, and promoting human capital development. The proposed Federal Colleges of Education will not only train future teachers but also contribute to research, innovation, and the socio-economic growth of their host communities” Mr. Abbas said.
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He noted that the public hearing serves as a critical step in the legislative process, providing stakeholders the opportunity to contribute to the refinement of these bills.
“The House believes strongly in inclusive governance and stakeholder engagement and today’s discussions will enrich our understanding of the needs and expectations of the education sector. I encourage all participants, education experts, policymakers, community leaders, and the general public present here to engage constructively, offering in-depth perspectives that will help shape policies, aiming to strengthen Nigeria’s education sector” he added.
Access to quality education
The Chairman of the Committee on Federal Colleges of Education, Mr. Adamu Tanko, who is also a sponsor of the bills, said that education remains the bedrock of national development.
He said that as representatives of the people, lawmakers are committed to ensuring that every Nigerian, regardless of their location or socio-economic background, has access to quality teacher education.
“The establishment of new Federal Colleges of Education is a critical step in addressing the gaps in teachers training, strengthening our education sector, and building the skilled workforce needed to drive national progress. Today’s public hearing provides an opportunity for robust engagement among key stakeholders, including policymakers, education experts, community leaders, and members of the public. It is a platform to deliberate on the merits of these bills, assess their potential impact, and refine them to ensure they align with national goals and international best practices” Mr. Tanko said.
He encouraged all participants to contribute constructively, offering insights and recommendations that will help shape the bills for the benefit of the education system and ultimately Nigeria’s future.
The National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) expressed its support for the proposed establishment of ten new Colleges of Education across Nigeria.
According to NCCE Executive Secretary, Prof. Paulinus Okwelle, 27 states already have Colleges of Education.
He advocated for the new institutions to be established in Bayelsa, Kwara, Taraba, Jigawa, Ondo, Plateau, Niger, Kaduna, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and Imo as they have none.
The ten proposed institutions include Federal College of Education, Technical, Ile Ife, Federal College of Education, Faskari, Katsina, FCE, Oyin Akoko, Ondo state and FCE Ijesha, Lagos state amongst others.
Emmanuel Ukoh
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