The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has urged provosts of colleges of education across Nigeria to deliver measurable results through effective implementation of the dual mandate, stronger institutional accountability and improved teacher training.
Alausa said the reform presented an opportunity to transform colleges of education, enhance teacher preparation and create more opportunities for academic and professional advancement. However, he stressed that achieving these goals required effective leadership and cooperation among stakeholders.
The minister, represented by the Director of Colleges of Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, Dr Cecilia Uba, made the remarks in a goodwill message at the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) Teacher Education Leadership and Impact Award ceremony in Abuja on Thursday.
The event, held at the Wells Carlton Hotel in Asokoro, was organised in partnership with Gosima Group as part of activities marking the NCCE’s national retreat and workshop on implementing the dual mandate and strategic plan for colleges of education.
“The effective implementation of the Dual Mandate presents a significant opportunity to reposition Colleges of Education, strengthen teacher preparation and expand pathways for academic and professional advancement,” Alausa said.
He noted that achieving the reform’s objectives required “strategic leadership, institutional accountability, collaboration and a shared commitment to excellence.”
Alausa reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to collaborating with the NCCE, college provosts and other stakeholders to implement policies that would improve the quality, relevance and global competitiveness of teacher education in Nigeria.
He also praised the commission for organising the awards, describing the initiative as a platform for recognising educational leaders whose dedication and professionalism had contributed to better educational outcomes.
The minister urged recipients to regard their awards as more than recognition of past accomplishments, encouraging them to embrace greater responsibility and innovation in their service to the country.
“As champions of education, you are encouraged to see this honour not merely as a reward for past accomplishments, but as a renewed call to greater responsibility, innovation and service to our nation,” he said.
The dual-mandate policy allows eligible colleges of education to offer both the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) and approved bachelor’s degree programmes in education, expanding opportunities for teacher training and academic progression.
Its implementation also requires institutions to strengthen their capacity, maintain quality standards, improve facilities and prepare teachers to meet evolving classroom demands.
The Executive Secretary of the NCCE, Dr Angela Ajala, emphasised the importance of college provosts in national development, urging them to improve institutional performance, embrace innovation and deliver measurable improvements in student learning.
In her welcome address, Ajala said the quality of education depended largely on the competence of teachers, which was shaped by the institutions responsible for their training.
“Our Provosts are not merely administrators; you are builders of institutions, developers of human capacity and custodians of the future of our children,” she said.
She called on colleges to improve teacher preparation, widen academic opportunities, promote research and adopt digital innovation.
“Our expectation is clear: we must build colleges that attract students, inspire confidence among parents, earn the respect of employers and become valued partners in national development,” she said.
Ajala added that institutions must prioritise academic excellence, financial sustainability and innovation while improving learning outcomes. She congratulated the award recipients and reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to quality assurance and institutional development.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the occasion and former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, described teacher education as a national security concern, warning that neglecting teachers could threaten Nigeria’s long-term development.
“Educational policies are written in the office, but they succeed or fail in the classroom. Educational reform is only as strong as the teacher who must carry it to the child,” Anyim said.
He described teachers as essential to human capital development, comparing their importance to the role of roads and power plants in economic growth.
“When we neglect them, the cost appears not in a single budget cycle, but in generations to come,” he added.
Anyim called for modern facilities, sustainable funding and better professional development opportunities for colleges of education, noting that teachers needed adequate training to meet the demands of the digital age.
He also encouraged private-sector investment in education and urged the media to highlight teachers’ contributions to national development.
“To our friends in the media: Tell the stories of teachers as boldly as you tell the stories of politicians and businessmen, because a nation celebrates what it sees,” he said.
The former Senate president also commended the NCCE for its regulatory role, stressing that effective regulation was essential to maintaining educational standards and public confidence in colleges of education and their qualifications.
In another development, the President and Group Managing Director of Gosima Group, Dr Gideon Chidiebere Osi, announced plans to expand scholarship opportunities for deserving college of education students through the company’s charitable arm, the Gideon and Joy Life and Leadership Foundation.
Osi said the partnership with the NCCE was designed to strengthen educational leadership and improve teacher education through stakeholder engagement and institutional support.
He explained that although Gosima Group had undertaken projects involving roads, buildings, water infrastructure, laboratories, libraries, sports facilities and technology hubs, the development of human capacity remained a critical challenge that teachers were uniquely positioned to address.
“For Gosima Group, supporting this initiative is not charity. It is responsibility. No enterprise can prosper for long in a nation that neglects education,” he said.
Osi said the company planned to complement government efforts through scholarships, mentorship and youth leadership development, adding that stronger colleges of education would ultimately improve teaching and learning across the country.
He also praised the NCCE leadership for establishing the partnership and encouraged award recipients to uphold high standards and inspire future generations of educators.
The ceremony brought together education administrators, government officials and private-sector representatives to honour contributions to teacher education and promote collaboration towards improving teaching standards in Nigeria.