Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education

Last updated
Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education
TypePublic
EstablishedApril, 1963
Affiliation University of Nigeria, Nsukka
Location
Owerri, Imo State
,
Nigeria

5°30′1.07413″N 7°1′26.96250″E
Website Official website

The Alvan Ikoku University of Education, Owerri, formerly the Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri is located in Owerri, the capital of Imo State, Nigeria. It was established in April, 1963 as the Advanced Teachers Training College by the defunct Eastern Nigeria Government on the grounds of the Old Shell Camp, Owerri. [1] It has since expanded across the Orlu Road on the banks of the Nworie River. It awards the National Certificate in Education (NCE) and the Professional Diploma in Education (PDE) and, in affiliation, with the University of Nigeria, Nsukka [2] the Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) since 1984. The university is headed by Dr. (Mrs.) Stella Ngozi Lemchi, the Acting Vice-Chancellor (Administration) who was the erstwhile Provost of the college. She took over, in 2022, from Dr. Dan C. Anyanwu. [3] Dr (Mrs.) Lemchi is the second female Provost of the college, after Professor Blessing C. Ijioma. [4]

Contents

History

The college was founded in 1963 as the Advanced Teachers Training College with technical assistance from UNESCO. [5] It was charged with the responsibility of training teachers in line with the Ashby report on Higher Education in Nigeria. In 1973, via Edict No. 11 promulgated by the Administrator of East-Central State of Nigeria, Ukpabi Asika, the Teachers College became a College of Education and was named in honour of Alvan Ikoku, a teacher and educationist, founder of the first African owned secondary school in Nigeria (Aggrey Memorial Grammar School) and President of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) for many years. [6]

The college started with 150 students and by 2012 the student population had grown to over 13,000, with over 600 academic staff. The students include regular undergraduates, sandwich course students, evening and weekend students and post-graduates studying the Professional Diploma in Education. In 1976, a campus of the college catering to the Department of Agriculture was established in Umuahia, now the capital of Abia State. Next was the establishment of an Orlu campus in 1981, but the multi-campus system was ended in 1987 and the college reverted to a single campus institution.

In 2007, the Federal Government took over the college and it metamorphosed into Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri. [7] The Federal Government take-over brought improved financial aid and the college has become able to renovate old structures, build large classrooms, laboratories and hostels and expanded the staff strength. It also enabled the college to start new departments and Schools and establish new ventures.  On May 20, 2015, the Federal Government of Nigeria under President Goodluck Jonathan upgraded the school to a university to be called Alvan Ikoku University of Education. [8] However, a few months later, the Muhammadu Buhari administration put the upgrade "on hold." In October 2023, the college was finally upgraded to a University of Education by the Bola Tinubu government. [9]

The college is styled primus inter pares, first among equals, in Colleges of Education in Nigeria, because of its outstanding impact in the teacher education sector in Nigeria. It is envisioned as a modern Federal University of Education in a clean and healthy environment, that is a centre for excellence in ICT research, whose graduates are well adjusted and functional individuals.

Schools

The college has seven Schools which include the:

  1. School of Vocational and Technical Education
  2. School of Languages
  3. School of General Education
  4. School of Sciences
  5. School of Arts and Social Sciences
  6. School of General Studies
  7. School of Early Childhood Care and Primary Education

Principals/Provosts

Academics

The establishment of the Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri in 1963, just three years after Nigeria's independence was a milestone in the annals of education in Nigeria, [1] especially the South-East. As an institution solely disposed to research, teaching and training teachers for both the intermediate and higher education sectors, the college has in the past sixty years contributed to the production of quality teachers in the country. In 1984, the college became affiliated with the University of Nigeria, Nsukka to award the bachelor's degree in various subject areas. In 2023, it was upgraded to a University of Education.

The institution houses the students in hostels named alphabetically from A-G. The college has students from all over the country and several countries from West Africa, especially the Spanish speaking countries whose citizens come to study English at the International Centre for English Studies (ICES). The college has a predominantly female student population with females making up over 80%. Consequently, the female volleyball team is one of the strongest in the Collegiate games in the country, consistently winning gold or silver in the Nigerian College of Education Games (NICEGA).

The Sandwich Programme caters for people pursuing a teaching career who want to improve their education. These students study during the holidays when the full-time Regular undergraduate students have dispersed and primary and secondary schools are on break. The Sandwich system has enabled many teachers to get the relevant credentials to progress in the teaching profession. The students have a Student Union Government (SUG) led by an elected president and a Students Representative Council (SRC), a body of elected student legislators. In spite of the dominant female population, the SUG Presidents have been males, except for 2019–2020 academic session when Comrade Ugonna Gloria Alozie won the Presidency. [11]

The institution runs demonstration centres. They are Department of Early Childhood Care Kindergarten/Nursery School, Department of Primary Education School and the School of Education Demonstration Secondary School. The Primary School was set up in 1983 and the Secondary School started in October, 1994. [1] The demonstration centres were established to help teachers and students carry out their teaching practice activities, a major requirement for graduation, and to solve the educational needs of the staff and general public by providing professionally run schools at the three levels.

The college E- library

The Library, Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri, on its official website. Our desire and dedication to offering a convenient and enjoyable way for users to access our library collections made the site necessary. We are unquestionably a library dedicated to fostering research and conversation by spearheading the college's acquisition, arrangement, and accessibility of scholarly resources; establishing stimulating environments for learning, cooperation, and exploration; involving the community through its varied holdings; and providing services to the faculty and staff of this outstanding institution.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Nigeria</span> Federal university in Nsukka, Nigeria

The University of Nigeria, commonly referred to as UNN, is a federal university located in Nsukka, Enugu State, Eastern part of Nigeria. Founded in 1955 by Nnamdi Azikiwe who was the Governor General of Nigeria between 1960 and 1963, and first President of Nigeria between 1963 and 1966. The University of Nigeria Nsukka was formally opened on 7 October 1960. The University of Nigeria has three campuses in Enugu State–Nsukka, Enugu, and Ituku-Ozalla – and the Aba campus in Abia State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Owerri</span> Capital city of Imo state, Nigeria

Owerri is the capital city of Imo State in Nigeria, set in the heart of Igboland. It is also the state's largest city, followed by Orlu, Okigwe and Ohaji/Egbema. Owerri consists of three Local Government Areas including Owerri Municipal, Owerri North and Owerri West, it has an estimated population of 1,401,873 as of 2016 and is approximately 100 square kilometres (40 sq mi) in area. Owerri is bordered by the Otamiri River to the east and the Nworie River to the south. The Owerri Slogan is Heartland. It is also called the Las Vegas of Africa, due to the night life of the city and the numerous hotels, casino and leisure parks all over the city.

Chief Sir Ernest Emenyonu is a Nigerian academic, who is an African literature critic and professor. He was formerly head of the department of English and Literary Studies, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar, in that order, through the 1980s and 1990s. He was also Provost of Alvan Ikoku College of Education now Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Educationˌ Owerri in Imo stateˌ Nigeria (1992–1995).

Chinwe Obaji is a higher education lecturer, teacher and education administrator who was appointed to head Nigeria's Federal Ministry of Education in June 2005 as Senior Minister, and was succeeded a year later by Obiageli Ezekwesili.

Alvan Azinna Ikoku was a Nigerian educationist, statesman, activist and politician.

Samuel "Sam" Onunaka Mbakwe also known as Dee Sam was an Igbo politician and first democratic governor of Imo State, south east Nigeria from 1 October 1979 until 31 December 1983. The Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, located in Owerri, the state capital, was renamed after him. In 1981, Sam Mbakwe set up Imo State University. The campus was located in a territory that was ceded to Abia State in 1991 and was re-christened Abia State University. However, Imo State University acquired a new campus in Owerri and still exists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Imo State</span> State of Nigeria

Imo State is a state in the South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, bordered to the north by Anambra State, Rivers State to the west and south, and Abia State to the east. It takes its name from the Imo River which flows along the state's eastern border. The state capital is Owerri and the State's slogan is the "Eastern Heartland."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Federal University of Technology Owerri</span> Public university in Owerri, Nigeria

The Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) is a federal government university in Owerri West, Owerri, the capital of Imo State, Nigeria. The university is bounded by the communities of Eziobodo, Ihiagwa, Obinze, Okolochi and Emeabiam. It is the premier federal university of technology in the South-East and South-South parts of Nigeria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adiele Afigbo</span> Nigerian historian (1937-2009)

Adiele Eberechukwu Afigbo was a Nigerian historian known for the history and historiography of Africa, more particularly Igbo history and the history of Southeastern Nigeria. Themes emphasised include pre-colonial and colonial history, inter-group relations, the Aro and the slave trade, the art and science of history in Africa, and nation-building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Onuimo</span> Local Government Area in Imo State, Nigeria

Onuimo is a Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Okwe. It comprises four towns namely: Okwe, Okwelle, Umuduru-Egbeaguru and Umuna. It is home to very prominent Nigerians such as The ever influential dynamic estate surveyor; Prof. James Gaius Ibe- USA trained and tenured professor of economics, finance and business administration, Dr Dennis Ndububa-a graduate of UNN with close to 40 years of professional practice as a medical doctor; Dr. Victor Ndububa; Dr. Christian Egemba; Dr. Kaunda Ibe-Consultant Neurosurgeon at Imo State University Teaching Hospital Orlu Imo State; Dr. Geraldine Echue-winner in Global Chemistry competition; Chief Adol N. Obi - the former bursar of Federal Polytechnic Nekede Owerri, and Engr Ekene Echefu - a lecturer in Mechatronics engineering department, federal polytechnic Nekede Owerri.Taiwo Damilola also served there. Also American author and writer Dreux Richard resides in Okwe to complete his writing when in Nigeria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Imo State University</span> Imo State University (IMSU) Owerri

The Imo State University (IMSU) in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria was established in 1981 through law No. 4 passed by the Imo State House of Assembly. The university admitted the first intake of 392 pioneer students on 23 October 1981.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nkechi Ikpeazu</span> Nigerian politician

Nkechi Caroline Ikpeazu was the First Lady of Abia State from 29 May 2015 to 29 May 2023, as wife of the former Governor of Abia State located in the southeast of Nigeria.

Justice Abai Ikwechegh (OFR) (7 September 1923 – 12 October 2020) was a Nigerian jurist.

Celestine Onyemobi Elihe Onwuliri was an academician in the field of Parasitology. He served as the 5th Vice Chancellor of the FUTO University. He was also the Acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Federal College of Education (Technical), Umunze</span> Federal tertiary institution in Anambra State, Nigeria

The Federal College of Education (Technical), Umunze is a Nigerian Technical Tertiary Institution located in Umunze, Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria. It is affiliated to Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka for its degree programmes.

Victoria Adaobi Obasi is the current substantive vice chancellor of Imo State University. She hails from Ogboko in Ideato South Local Government Area of Imo State Nigeria. Between 2011–2013, she was commissioner for education in Imo State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tessy Okoli</span> Nigerian academic

Theresa Obumneme Okoli is the 4th substantive provost of Federal College of Education (Technical), Umunze. On 17 May 2018, she was appointed by the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari a Substantive provost of the college.

Nene Elsie Nwada Obianyo is a Nigerian paediatric surgeon, delegate from Nigeria to the World Federation of Associations of Paediatric Surgeons and one of the two Nigerian surgeons who first successfully separated conjoined twins in Nigeria at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Enugu in 1988.

The Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) Library is the primary academic library for the FUTO in Nigeria. The library is adjacent to lecture rooms, laboratories and hostels. It has ICT section that provides e-resources databases that include Science Direct, Ebscohost, Research4life databases, TEEAL and other free electronic resources.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "History of Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education". Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education. Retrieved 2021-05-27.
  2. ↑ "UNN (Alvan Ikoku Campus)". University Of Nigeria Nsukka. 2017-11-09. Retrieved 2022-10-07.
  3. ↑ Nwafor (2018-07-25). "Alvan Ikoku College of Education gets new provost". Vanguard News. Retrieved 2022-10-07.
  4. ↑ admin (2016-06-08). "First Female AIFCE Provost: My Best Moment is Anchoring College's 50th Anniversary". THISDAYLIVE. Retrieved 2021-08-29.
  5. ↑ "History of Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education". Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
  6. ↑ Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education (2012). Sandwich/EWP Students Handbook. Art Publishers: Owerri.
  7. ↑ "Uncertain fate of newly designated education varsities". guardian.ng. 27 May 2015. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
  8. ↑ "Alvan Ikoku Varsity Students Hail Jonathan, Onwuliri For School Upgrade". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2015-08-01. Retrieved 2021-08-29.
  9. ↑ Uzoaru, Stanley (7 November 2023). "The Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education (AIFCE) has finally been upgraded to a university status". The Sun. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  10. ↑ "NAWOJ Imo State Congratulates Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education 13th Substantive Provost – 9News Nigeria". 2022-07-24. Retrieved 2022-10-07.
  11. ↑ "Imo elects first female SUG President". The Nigerian Xpress. 2019-08-23. Retrieved 2021-08-29.

5°30′1.07413″N7°1′26.96250″E / 5.5002983694°N 7.0241562500°E / 5.5002983694; 7.0241562500

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.