From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri
The Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education (AIFCE) has finally been upgraded to a university status.
Former provost of the school who is now the acting Deputy Vice Chancellor, Dr. Stella Lemchi disclosed this to newsmen on Tuesday.
She said “We bring you warm greetings from the entire University Community of Alvan Ikoku University of Education, Owerri. The main purpose of this briefing is to acquaint you with the current reality and status of our institution formerly known as Alvan Ikoku College of Education, and now the Alvan Ikoku University of Education, Owerri”.
On the history of the institution, Lemchi added “The journey that recently culminated in the upgrade of our institution started in 1963, when, on the recommendation of the Ashby Commission, the institution was established as the Advanced Teacher Training College, Owerri under the auspices of UNESCO on behalf of the United Nations (Special Funds), and the Federal Government of Nigeria.
” The College was established as one of the four projects aimed at expanding facilities for the training of secondary school teachers in Nigeria, which envisaged one Federal Training College at the National level in Lagos, and three Colleges to serve the Eastern, Western, and Northern Regions, respectively.
“The Government of the East Central State of Nigeria, by Edict No. 11 of May 31, 1973 upgraded the Advanced Teacher Training College Owerri to the status of a full-fledged College of Education named in honour of the great educationist, Alvan Ikoku, a former leader of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) and proprietor of the first indigenous privately-owned secondary school in Nigeria.
Lemchi has expressed the institution’s gratitude to the State Governor, Hope Uzodimma and president Bola Tinubu for making it a reality.