NANCES WORLD PRESS CONFERENCE STATEMENT BY COMR. KUR ISAAC USHAHEMBA NATIONAL PRESIDENT, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIAN COLLEGES OF EDUCATION STUDENTS (NANCES) WORLDWIDE
ON THE NEW COLLEGE OF EDUCATION ACT, NELFUND, STUDENT SECURITY, TETFUND AND THE FUTURE OF TEACHER EDUCATION IN NIGERIA
Distinguished members of the press, respected education stakeholders, student leaders, ladies and gentlemen.
I address you today on behalf of the National Association of Nigerian Colleges of Education Students (NANCES) Worldwide with a deep sense of responsibility to the Nigerian student and to the future of education in our country.
Our message today is simple: Nigeria cannot build a strong future without building a strong education system, and Nigeria cannot build a strong education system without strengthening the institutions that train its teachers.
THE NEW COLLEGE OF EDUCATION ACT
NANCES commends His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Honourable Minister of Education for the steps being taken towards giving practical effect to the new College of Education Act.
We believe this new legal framework provides an important opportunity to reposition Colleges of Education, strengthen teacher preparation and give Nigerian teachers the recognition and institutional support they deserve.
However, legislation must not end with enactment.
We therefore call on every relevant agency, institution and stakeholder to ensure the timely, transparent and speedy implementation of the Act.
Our students are waiting. Our lecturers are waiting. Our Colleges of Education are waiting.
The time for implementation is now.
NELFUND: OPENING THE DOORS OF TERTIARY EDUCATION
NANCES also commends the Federal Government and NELFUND for the student loan initiative and the progress being made in the disbursement of student support and upkeep allowances.
These interventions are important because financial difficulties should never become a permanent barrier between a Nigerian student and higher education.
The growth of student financial support can help more young Nigerians gain and remain in tertiary education.
But we must go further.
The student of today is not only competing within Nigeria; the student of today is competing in a global digital economy.
We therefore challenge NELFUND to consider a structured digital-device support programme for eligible loan beneficiaries, where feasible, so that students can access computers and other appropriate learning tools required for modern education.
Education support should not only keep students in school; it should prepare them to succeed beyond school.
SECURITY OF OUR STUDENTS
Ladies and gentlemen, we cannot discuss education without discussing security.
Nigerian students deserve to learn in an environment where their lives and safety are protected.
NANCES is concerned about the security challenges confronting communities across the country and calls on the Federal Government, security agencies, Ministry of Education, state governments and heads of tertiary institutions to strengthen security arrangements around campuses, hostels and student communities.
We particularly urge Provosts and institutional managements to make student safety a permanent priority.
A student cannot concentrate on a lecture when he or she is worried about personal safety.
TETFUND: THE BACKBONE OF TERTIARY EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT
NANCES recognizes the tremendous importance of TETFund interventions to Nigerian tertiary institutions.
TETFund’s mandate covers critical areas including infrastructure, instructional facilities, research, academic staff training and other interventions necessary for improving tertiary education.
We therefore commend the Federal Government, the Ministry of Education and the leadership of TETFund for interventions that have contributed to infrastructural development and institutional growth across our Colleges of Education and other tertiary institutions.
We also call for sustained attention to student welfare, including appropriate support for students undertaking Teaching Practice, because the future teachers of Nigeria should not be left to bear the burden of training alone. Every classroom Nigeria builds today and every teacher Nigeria properly trains today is an investment in tomorrow’s nation.
THE NEXT LEADERSHIP OF TETFUND
As representatives of students in Colleges of Education, NANCES believes that the leadership of TETFund should be entrusted to someone who understands the education system from multiple perspectives.
It is against this background that we respectfully place before Nigerians and the appropriate appointing authorities the candidature of Prof. Okey Rueben Okechukwu, FNAE, FPTA, PAF, for consideration as the next Executive Secretary of TETFund.
Prof. Okechukwu represents an uncommon combination of academic and administrative experience.
He is a university-trained Professor who has also served as a Provost within the College of Education system. He also brings experience from the basic education sector.
More importantly, he has demonstrated institution-building experience as the pioneer Provost of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Isu, Ebonyi State, an institution established as part of the Federal Government’s effort to address the shortage of qualified teachers in the basic education sector.
His administration at FCET Isu has attracted recognition, including the NANCES recognition reported as an overall best Provost award.
For us in NANCES, the question is not simply who wants the office.
The question is: who possesses the experience, understanding, integrity and institutional vision required to move TETFund forward?
We believe Prof. Okey Rueben Okechukwu deserves serious consideration.
Our position is not about ethnicity, region or personal interest.
It is about competence. It is about experience. It is about results. It is about the future of Nigerian education.
A CALL FOR MORE INVESTMENT IN EDUCATION
Finally, NANCES calls on the Federal Government and the Ministry of Education to increase investment in Nigerian tertiary education.
We specifically call for stronger and more sustainable funding for TETFund, NELFUND and the Colleges of Education sector.
Our Colleges need modern infrastructure.
Our students need better welfare.
Our lecturers need continuous professional development.
Our institutions need digital transformation.
And our teacher trainees need the support required to become globally competitive educators.
OUR FINAL MESSAGE
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen,
NANCES is not merely making demands today.
We are presenting a vision.
A vision of Colleges of Education that are properly funded.
A vision of students who can learn without unnecessary financial barriers.
A vision of campuses where students are safe.
A vision of teachers who are professionally prepared and globally competitive.
And a vision of TETFund led by people with the experience and capacity to understand the entire education ecosystem.
We therefore call on the Federal Government to act with urgency.
Implement the new College of Education Act, strengthen NELFUND, protect Nigerian students, increase investment in TETFund and Colleges of Education, and when the time comes to decide the next leadership of TETFund, let competence, integrity, experience and national interest guide the decision.
For us in NANCES:
THE FUTURE OF NIGERIA IS IN THE CLASSROOM.
THE FUTURE OF THE CLASSROOM IS IN THE TEACHER.
AND THE FUTURE OF THE TEACHER BEGINS WITH THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION.
Thank you, and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Comr. Kur Isaac Ushahemba
National President (NANCES) Worldwide
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