Buhari Degrades Alvan Ikoku University Of Education, From University To A College Of Education

The National Commission for Colleges of Education, NCCE, says the Federal Government has put the recent upgrading of Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri, to a university status on hold.

The Executive Secretary of NCCE, Professor Joshua  Monday, who made government’s position known to newsmen in Owerri, equally warned staff and students, who have been resisting the downgrading of the institution in the past week, to have a rethink and go back to work.The government decision was made public in Owerri, as the South East geo-political zone continues to lick its wound over what they called “the brazen marginalization of the area  in the appointments so far announced by President Muhammadu Buhari”.

According to the Executive Secretary, the decision to reverse the upgrading of the four old Colleges of Education to University status, was not influenced by any person or group of persons.

“The decision to reverse the four Colleges of Education that were upgraded to Universities of Education by the last federal administration to their former status, was not influenced by any person or group of persons within or outside the colleges, but was taken by the President in his wisdom”, the Executive Secretary said.

While saying that they were in Owerri to put the records straight, Professor  Monday  also affirmed that Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri, was one of the oldest Colleges of Education in Nigeria.

“Alvan has been running degree programmes and it is affiliated to the University of Nigeria. It was upgraded to a University of Education and the people jubilated. Everything was put in place and a substantive Vice Chancellor was appointed, while the Provost became the Deputy Vice Chancellor”, Professor  Monday  recounted.

He however recalled that early in August, a new directive came from the Federal Government that the recent conversion be put on hold.
Onwuemeodo, absolved President Buhari of any such intention.

“The truth is that Governor Okorocha, from the look of things, is far from the Presidency. He does not know what President Buhari is planning for Ndigbo, despite claiming to be a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC”, a staff of the institution that pleaded anonymity said. Meanwhile another said" Mr President does not know the people he is pushing to the walls. It's now obvious that these his appointments and Alvan decision is PERSONAL but he should be ready for Ibos, he has not finished dealing with Boko Haram talk of when we respond to his push and if he does not do something and very fast, he will hear from Ibos."

source: Vanguard