By Ali-Haidar Waziri Isa
In a landmark declaration, Prof Adamu Ahmad, Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Federal University of Education, Kano (FUEK), affirmed that the establishment of universities of education in Nigeria is a permanent fixture, set to usher in a new era of excellence in the education sector.
This assurance came during the council’s inaugural meeting with the university’s management at its main campus yesterday.
In his Goodwill Message, Prof Ahmed commended the federal government’s visionary decision to upgrade the former Federal College of Education, Kano, and Federal College of Education, Zaria, to universities of education. He described this move as a timely response to the growing need for specialized institutions focused on education.
“The conversion of these institutions into universities of education is justified by the pressing need to focus on the intellectual growth of education disciplines, often constrained within conventional universities,” Prof Adamu stated.
He emphasized that these new universities carry the hopes of a region desperate for improvement in its education landscape, stressing that specialized universities of education can no longer be neglected.
Drawing parallels with progress in sectors like health, agriculture, and transportation, Prof Adamu elaborated on the benefits of upgrading, saying, “Stand-alone universities of education will allow for greater specialization, enhancing teacher education quality and contributing to national development.
Isolating education disciplines into dedicated universities will foster innovation in teaching methods and educational research, leading to better-prepared educators and a more robust educational system.”
Prof Ahmed commended the institution’s management for maintaining industrial harmony, instrumental in facilitating a smooth transition during this period of transformation. He highlighted the shared historical significance of FUEK and Federal University Education, Zaria, with Ambassador Baba Jidda Ahmed now as Pro-Chancellor, both founded in the early 1960s as pioneering teacher-training establishments.