- Asagba Challenges FCE(T) Management, Donates N5m To Institution
BY PATRICK MGBODO
THE Asagba of Asaba, HRM Obi (Prof.) Epiphany Azinge, SAN, yesterday, challenged the management of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba, to explore innovative measures in reversing the institution’s dwindling student enrollment.
He charged the management of the school to target 10,000 student enrolment in coming academic year.
HRM Azinge gave the charge during a familiarisation visit to the College, where he pledged his full support towards revitalising the institution and ensuring its long-term sustainability.
‘’We cannot rely on the Federal Government to come and do everything for us. If you grow your enrolment, you will grow your internally-generated revenue (IGR), which you can use to address some of your issues.
‘’With your dual mandate (NCE/Degree programmes) now, we see no reason why the population of this institution will not multiply. Just a few days ago, the Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, matriculated 9,000 students. ‘’This is a federal institution in Asaba, and with my experience and exposure, I believe that you should not be thinking of anything less than 10,000. This should be our target, and we will not let it slip.
‘’Whatever we can do to increase the membership and enrolment of this institution, you can count on me, and I will drive the process’’ he said.
The revered monarch further pledged to intervene in some of the challenges of the institution, including providing water and electricity, just as he donated N5 million for the procurement of at least six air conditioners and 50 streetlights for the school.
On the issue of insecurity, HRM Azinge advised the school management to go beyond existing efforts and partner with security and military personnel, as is done in other citadels of learning plagued by similar challenges.
‘’I believe that we should be thinking along this line. It might cost some extra money, but with the connections we have with the Police Commissioner and the security architecture in Asaba, we can attract a patrol team to be stationed here permanently.
‘’If we can try this, then I am sure that the students will be at rest, students can go on uninterrupted, and the challenges of crime and criminality will go into abeyance,’’ the monarch said, even as he congratulated the provost of the institution on her imminent retirement.
Earlier, the Provost of the College, Prof Josephine Anene-Okeakwa, informed the monarch of her retirement after 36 years of meritorious service, which she said is less than a month away. Prof Anene-Okeakwa briefed the monarch on her achievements since mounting the saddle seven years ago, even as she identified land encroachment and malicious damage of the school’s property, as well as security issues, as some of the challenges bedevilling the College.
Also, student and staff union representatives corroborated the Provost in highlighting their challenges, even as they trusted in the capacity of the monarch to intervene.
