The outgoing Provost of the Federal College of Education (FCE), Abeokuta, Dr. Rafiu Adekola Soyele, has given the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu a 90 per cent rating in the area of education financing.
Soyele gave the assessment at his Valedictory Ceremony held at the Kunle Filani Hall of the College, where he presented an account of his stewardship and highlighted the achievements recorded during his tenure.
The accomplished educationist said federal institutions, particularly tertiary institutions, were no longer compelled to “go about caps in hand” in search of funds, attributing the development largely to the interventions of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).
According to him, TETFund has provided focused and transformative interventions in Federal Government-owned tertiary institutions across the country through funding and effective project management.
He acknowledged that, to some government watchers and critics, the Federal Government might not have done enough to meet all the needs of the education sector.
However, he argued that the government should not be expected to meet every institutional need and that institutions themselves must also make efforts to complement government interventions.
Soyele particularly commended the Federal Government’s funding initiatives, noting that they had positively impacted areas including research, infrastructure development and student financing.
The outgoing Provost said FCE Abeokuta had continued to maintain its status as a Centre of Excellence through a strong maintenance culture, which he said had enabled the College to maximise the use of existing infrastructure while also developing new facilities.
He said the College had also consistently complied with directives from the Federal Government and its governing council, adding that the institution had effectively implemented the new Dual Mandate policy for colleges of education.
Under the policy, he explained, the College has transitioned into a degree-awarding institution, as students would now be able to undertake the National Certificate in Education (NCE) programme before proceeding to a degree programme.
Soyele dismissed calls by some critics for the College to change its name to reflect its new degree-awarding status.
“What is in a name?” he asked, stressing that the institution’s identity and academic accomplishments were more important than a change of name.
The outgoing Provost also commended the cordial relationship between the teaching and non-teaching staff of the College, saying there was no unhealthy competition for superiority because both categories of workers were equally important to the effective functioning of the institution.
He further highlighted the College’s efforts to make its environment more accommodating to students living with disabilities.
Soyele expressed appreciation to a Good Samaritan who, according to him, made a generous donation towards the procurement of wheelchairs for students with disabilities.
He said such students must be carried along because they were an integral part of society and should not be neglected.
Looking ahead, Soyele disclosed that the College was positioning itself to host major examinations conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the National Examinations Council (NECO), the General Examinations Council and other examining bodies.
He said this would be facilitated by the planned provision of a 250-workstation facility.
He also disclosed plans for the construction of a new one-storey hostel, describing it as the first of its kind in the history of the College.
The outgoing Provost highlighted the transformation of the MKO Abiola Lake within the College into an attractive tourism destination.
According to him, the lake is being developed beyond its traditional use, with plans for its first Fish Harvest Festival scheduled for September 7, 2026.
He said the initiative was part of efforts to diversify the activities of the College and maximise its tourism potential.
The valedictory ceremony also featured the launch of a new book edited by the Provost-designate of the College, Dr. J. P. Filani, in honour of Soyele and his contributions to the development of FCE Abeokuta.
The ceremony attracted members of the academic community, staff, students, education stakeholders, friends and associates who gathered to celebrate Soyele’s tenure and his exit from office.
SPECIAL EDITION: DR. SOYELE’S LEGACY
For an extensive account of Dr. Rafiu Adekola Soyele’s tenure, achievements and the milestones recorded at the Federal College of Education, Abeokuta, readers are invited to look out for the next hardcopy edition of THE STATEPOST, which will feature a Special Edition dedicated to his tenure and his celebrated exit from office.
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