The Ekiti State House of Assembly, today 29th September signed the Education Bill which proposes to modernize the Ikere Ekiti College of education to University of education, science and technology.
The State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Dr Adebimpe Aderiye, said that the current College of Education has all the necessary requirements for it to be upgraded to a degree- awarding university.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Governing Council of the College of Education, Chief Afolabi Ojuawo, and the Provost, Prof. Olufemi Adeoluwa, thanked Gov. Fayemi for the initiative.
They said that they were ready to produce graduates that would be self-reliant; who would not be job-seekers anymore, but be employers of labour.
They added that the enrollment for the National Certificate of Education (NCE) programne is currently dwindling, so there is the need to upgrade the college to a degree-awarding university to meet the current economic reality.
In his own goodwill message, the Ikere community representative, Prof. Olufemi Babatola, said that the opportunity for the establishment of the university would bring to admission seekers would also increase the economic base of the state, the nation and the world.
Recall that the Ekiti State governor, Kayode Fayemi, planning to upgrade College Of Education, Ikere Ekiti to the Ekiti University of Education, Science and Technology as the bill passed into the law in the State House of Assembly.
A goodwill message from the Ekiti Traditional Rulers Council was delivered by its Chairman, Oba Ajibade Alabi, Alawe of Awe Ekiti, who was represented by the Onisan, Oba Gabriel Adejuwon.
Other dignitaries present at the event include : the Ogoga of Ikere, Oba Adejimi Adu, Mr Oke Alabi, the Administrator-General of the state Ministry of Justice and among others.