By Ruth Oginyi
Federal College of Education Technical Isu, Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State Friday, July 14th, 2023 held its maiden matriculation ceremony.
157 students were admitted into different departments of the new institution.
The school has six (6) departments. department of computer science double major, biology double major, chemistry, integrated science double major, mathematics double major, and department of physics.
The School of (secondary education) technical is made up of the Automobile Technology Department, Electrical Electronics, metalwork technology, and the Department of woodwork technology.
Under the School of Vocational, the school has the Department of agriculture education, home economics, department of fine art, and Department of Business Education.
Professor Reuben Okechukwu the Rector of the Federal College of Education Technical, Isu, Ebonyi State, in his address, said that Nigeria lacks the resources to catch up with knowledge-based economy positive traits due to the rural economic quagmire of the people.
According to Professor Okechukwu, the lack of resources by the country to catch up with the knowledge economy has led youths and teenagers to divest into many threatening adventures that are inimical to the health growth of society.
The Provost thanked President Bola Tinubu for his clear vision of promoting quality education.
He said, “We are caught in a web of dilemma of poverty and desire for higher education. We have many interested candidates who wish to further their education but cannot because of poverty.
“The world is globally becoming a knowledge economy. However, we lack the resources to catch up with this global positive trait due to our rural economic quagmire.
“this ugly trend has led our youths and teenagers alike to divest into many threatening adventures that are inimical to the healthy growth of society.
“Also, unemployment is on the increase, the government is not divesting enough likewise the blessed in our midst. All these lead to what we refer to as insecurity in the land.
“The insecurity has become topical, frustrating, or infusing fear all over. We must come together to have a conversation and a way forward. We have low student enrolment due to poverty, not because of desire.
“I invite all blessed and generous members among us to support our youths and teenagers in their quest for education. This I believe will pull a lot of our teenagers and youths from social vices and miscreants called insecurity and cybercrime”.
The Provost announced that the school fees of the college are very low and urged good-spirited individuals in the society to support indigent students in their educational careers to avoid Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s postulation that “it is the children of these indigent members of the society that will not allow the children of the privileged to walk freely”, adding that the school fees of the college were very low and affordable.
He urged the students to imbibe the culture of commitment to their studies, shun every distraction and graduate with flying colors, and lay a foundation for themselves as pioneer students of the school.
He warned them to respect the ethics/rules of the college and the norms of the host community.
Governor of Ebonyi State Francis Nwifuru represented by the state Commissioner for Education(Tertiary Education), Professor Omari Omaka, in his remarks called on lecturers of the college to train the students to be practical-oriented.
He urged the students to focus on their studies and practice what they are taught in school when they graduate.
Nwifuru noted that because education has suffered a lot the state government is working hard to restore the system.
He charged the fresh students to work hard so that they can give back to the school as Aliumai and society.
Adding that they should avoid social activities that will expose them to danger.
“No matter how you are trained, if you are not practicing, it is meaningless. So, bear it in mind as lecturers in this great college, as foundation students of this great college, as Principal officers, the task is to train our students to be practically oriented and not coming to give lectures and you go away”, he said.
On his part, Oludayo L O who represented the parm sec federal ministry of Education is his remarks urged the students to put in their best as their various courses are self-sustaining which will make them employers of labor after graduation.
Some of the students including Okorie Precious Chidinma and Bassy Isaac said they were extremely happy to gain admission into the school and assured to be of good behavior and study hard to promote the institution.//
