The Provost of the Federal College of Education (FCE), Yola, Dr Mohammed Usman Degereji, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to upgrade the institution to a Federal University of Education, arguing that the move would strengthen teacher training and expand its capacity to meet Nigeria’s growing educational needs.
Degereji made the appeal during the college’s 16th combined convocation ceremony in Yola, Adamawa State, where 3,555 graduands from the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 academic sessions were celebrated.
The proposed upgrade would mark a significant milestone for the institution, which was established in 1974 as a teacher-training college and has spent more than five decades contributing to the development of Nigeria’s education sector.
According to the Provost, the college’s history of producing qualified teachers, alongside its expanded academic responsibilities, provides a strong basis for its transformation into a full-fledged university specialising in education.
Established initially as the Federal Advanced Teachers College, the institution has evolved over the years to accommodate changing demands in teacher education. Its current mandate includes the award of the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) and degrees, reflecting the expansion of its academic responsibilities.
Degereji believes that upgrading the institution would further position it to address emerging challenges in teacher preparation, educational research and professional development.
The call comes amid continuing concerns about the availability of qualified teachers, particularly in communities where access to quality education remains limited. Strengthening specialised institutions that train teachers has increasingly become an important part of discussions about improving educational standards across Nigeria.
The convocation also provided an opportunity for the college’s leadership to assess its progress and highlight improvements recorded under the current administration.
Degereji disclosed that the 3,555 graduands comprised 1,818 students from the 2024 academic session and 1,737 from the 2025 session.
He described their graduation as an important contribution to the teaching profession, expressing confidence that the graduates would help strengthen educational delivery in Adamawa State, the wider North-East region and other parts of the country.
The Provost also highlighted improvements in the institution’s infrastructure and administrative systems, including investments in information and communication technology, hostel renovations, lecture theatres, laboratories and staff offices.
Other initiatives included the establishment of a digital hub for students seeking certificates and transcripts, the introduction of an entrepreneurship and career services centre, and programmes designed to strengthen staff development and productivity.
He further reported that the college had reduced its inherited local debt from more than ₦100 million in 2022 to less than ₦1 million in 2026, presenting the achievement as evidence of improved financial management.
Despite these developments, the proposed university status remains a request to the Federal Government rather than an approved institutional change.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, acknowledged the importance of strengthening Nigeria’s education system and highlighted government initiatives aimed at improving access, funding and institutional performance.
These initiatives include the Nigeria Education Loan Fund and the dual-mandate policy that allows designated federal colleges of education to offer degree programmes alongside their traditional NCE qualifications.
However, the minister reportedly questioned the immediate need to convert FCE Yola into a university, arguing that the existing dual-mandate arrangement already gives the institution an opportunity to expand its degree-awarding capacity.
That position highlights an important policy question: whether granting university status would provide substantial additional benefits beyond the academic autonomy and expanded responsibilities already available under the dual-mandate system.
For supporters of the proposed upgrade, the decision could provide a stronger institutional framework for research, postgraduate education, specialised teacher training and wider academic development. However, achieving those benefits would require sustained investment in staffing, infrastructure, research facilities and quality assurance.
Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, represented at the ceremony by his deputy, Professor Kaletapwa Farauta, also reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to educational development and support for federal tertiary institutions operating in the state.
The governor highlighted state-level initiatives involving school infrastructure, scholarships, teacher training and policies designed to improve the recruitment, deployment and retention of teachers.
The proposed transformation of FCE Yola therefore comes at a time when governments and educational stakeholders are considering how best to expand access to quality education while ensuring that graduates are adequately prepared for the demands of the profession.
For the college, the immediate priority remains sustaining academic standards, improving facilities and producing qualified teachers. Whether the Federal Government eventually approves the proposed university status will depend on its assessment of the institution’s needs, existing mandate and the broader direction of national education policy.
If approved, the upgrade could reshape the institution’s future and strengthen its position within Nigeria’s teacher-education system. Until then, the Provost’s appeal represents a significant proposal whose outcome will be closely watched by students, staff, graduates and other stakeholders in Adamawa State.
