The news of Federal Government’s approval of the establishment and immediate take-off of six Federal Colleges of Education across six geo-political zones of the country was received with jubilations in Bauchi, one of States that the Colleges will be sited.
The choice of Bauchi State for the establishment of the institution is certainly strategic and insightful for a number of reasons.
At a time that the country is clamouring for qualified teachers in our schools and with Bauchi State having no Federal institution to train teachers, the choice of Bauchi to establish a federal college of education cannot come at a better time.
Being one of the States with large number of out-of-school children, the establishment of Federal College of Education in Bauchi State will definitely change the narratives as many qualified teachers will be produced to face this problem head-on.
Bauchi State is also a strategic location in the northeast region because it’s located at the centre of the six states of the zone. It shares boundaries with North Central and North West. This will make it easier and more convenient for students from all part of the zone and other parts of the country to access the institution for both academic and other purposes.
What is being debated now is where the College will be sited in Bauchi State?
There is almost a consensus among people of Bauchi State that the College should be located in Bauchi Central.
This is because Bauchi Central Zone is the only zone without teachers training institute and it is the zone with highest number of out-of-school children.
In Bauchi Bauchi North, there are situations such as Aminu Saleh College of Education and Bauchi State University Gadau which offer NCE and degrees in education while in Bauchi South there are Adamu Tafawa Balewa College of Education Kangere, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University and Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic Bauchi which offer both NCE and degrees in education.
Bauchi Central has none, thus nobody will contest locating of the FCE in the Central Zone. Bauchi Central Zone has six Local Governments; Ningi, Warji, Ganjuwa, Darazo, Misau and Dambam.
Among these Local Governments, Ningi has the most strategic location for establishment of a federal institution.
Apart from conducive atmosphere and environment, Ningi is the only Local Government that share boundaries with two geo-political zones of the country.
In the north and west, Ningi Share borders with Kano, Jigawa and Kaduna States of Northwest Zone while in the south it share boundaries with Plateau State of North Central.
This has given Ningi Local Government unmatched advantage over other local governments in the zone because people from all parts of the country have various routes to Ningi.
And this apart from the fact that Ningi is one of the historic emirates in the Northern part of the country and centre of political activities and and voting strength.
With these few but strong facts, I call on President Muhammadu Buhari and Minister of Education Malam Adamu Adamu and all stakeholders to as a matter of strategy, suitability and convenience, locate the newly established Federal College of Education in Ningi Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
Abdul Ahmad Burra, No. 1 Behind First Bank, Burra, Ningi Local Government, Bauchi State.
[email protected], 08024577854
