•Members include Agu, Nwodo, Bianca-Ojukwu, Nnadi
By Henry Umahi
•Dr Chibuzor Emmanuel, Dr Sosthenes Eze, Amb. Bianca Ojukwu, Prof. Agu (in red tie), Okey Chukwuogor, Dr Chinedu Ani and Mr Eze
The inaugural ceremony of the governing council for Christian Chukwuma Onoh College of Education (CCOCOE), Hill Top, Ngwo, Enugu, held last Thursday. Prof. Agu Gab Agu is the chairman.
In the letter of Agu’s appointment, the institution said: “Having considered your antecedents, expertise and experience gained over the years to serve God willingly, taking cognisance of your commitment to excellence, leadership skills development and capacity building, we are pleased to officially appoint you as the chairman of the governing council of CCOCOE for a period of five years with effect from March 1, 2024 to March 1, 2029.
“Your role as chairman of the college governing council will involve leading strategic decision-making processes, and contributing valuable insights to enhance the overall academic and administrative environment of the college, thereby making using your expertise to contribute to the continued success and growth of the college.”
At the event, Prof. Agu called for one-minute silence for the repose of the soul of the former governor of Abia State and ex-minister of science, technology and innovation, Dr Ogbonna Onu, who died in April. He noted that Onu would have been seated with them but nature translated him to the other side of the great divide.
Indeed, Onu was nominated as part of the team. Others are Chief Nnia Nwodo, Amb. Bianca Ojukwu, Bishop Onyeka Onyia, Bishop Emmanuel Ugwu (retd), Ven. Prof. Madubuko Ubesie,
Prof. Okey Orji, Sir Dickson Ani, Dr. Chigioke Agbo, Mr. Ikenna Eze, Arc. Okechukwu Chukwuogo, Ven. Dr. Chibuzo Emmanuel and Rev. Canon Chimaobi Ositadinma Nnadi, who will serve as registrar/secretary.
Agu extolled the legacies of Onoh, a man in whom many were well pleased. He said: “C.C Onoh is a great brand. He represents liberation, emancipation, empowerment, freedom, independence and hope. Unfortunately successive governments of Enugu, Anambra and Ebonyi states, which he governed, have not found it necessary to honour and celebrate him even with a street named after him
“This College of Education will become one of the best in the country in the coming years.
We thank and accept the Diocesan for finding this assemblage of distinguished Nigerians worthy of membership of the Council.”
In his welcome address, the acting Provost, Ven. Dr. Chibuzo Francis Emmanuel, remarked that the college has tremendous positive momentum. He said: “The college is a vibrant community of students, teachers, scholars, counselors and friends living and learning together in the belief that moral and religious values in education is a life-changing experience to which everyone is called.
“Colleges of Education are defined by their faculty and great colleges are defined by having engaged teachers and scholars who bring new perspectives, ideas, energy and partnerships to the students, to one another, and to the college. Our college is a community bound by a strong commitment to collaboration, respect, diversity, inclusion and learning from one another.
“We are a community where bias and hatred especially in religious belief are not tolerated. We are especially dedicated to supporting achievement in the area of teachers’ education and our mission is to produce specialist teachers for the total development of the youth at all levels of the nation’s educational system.
“We establish relationships of lasting consequence between students and the people who teach and advise them. We offer integrative education and academic mentoring. We champion relationships among students from different intercultural backgrounds while enabling students to explore equity and diversity in a setting that is socially engaging and academically rigorous.
“We also encourage personal and social responsibility by creating opportunities for students to share their learning with the community and to make meaningful contributions to the places where they live. The result, we believe, will be graduates who are prepared to engage the complexities of life in a changing world with curiosity, empathy, joy, and resilience.”
The provost disclosed that the college is approved by the Federal Government as an NCE awarding institution that offers quality undergraduate programmes in a multiple of disciplines. According to him, “the college was officially brought into being in March 2023 as part of the Decree that established Colleges of Education in Nigeria. Decree No. 4 of March 14th 1989 as amended in 1993.”
Among others, he expressed appreciation to members of the higher education committee led by Prof. Agu for their dedication and excellent services that brought the college to where it is today.
In his address, the proprietor/visitor of the college, Dr. Sosthenes I. Eze, thanked all the members of the governing council for accepting to take up the responsibility, especially for finding time to be present at the inauguration.
He said: “The idea of the College of Education has been on the table of the Diocese for over five years before we finally discussed it at the Diocesan board meeting held at St. James’ Church, Iva Valley, Enugu in March 2022 where the board received a report from the chairman of Enugu provincial committee on politics and good governance, Prof. Agu Gab Agu concerning the participation of faith-based organisations in the provision of quality higher education to our society.
“He encouraged our Diocese to be involved in the quest for the restoration of standard and moral education in the country. A motion was moved and accepted by the Diocesan Board for the Diocese of Enugu North to take a step in this direction and it was finally approved by the 2022 Diocesan Synod at Okpatu later in the year.
Shortly after that, a Committee on Higher Education was set up with Prof. Agu Gab Agu as the Chairman. This committee, has worked hard and tirelessly through thick and thin to see to the realization of the dream. When we saw the zeal of this Committee, we have to mobilize some funds to give it a push.
Due to paucity of fund and lack of space, the Diocese saw the need to use a section of the facilities of our missions school, Colliery Comprehensive Secondary School, Ngwo as a take-off site for the College.
When it was time to name the school, a number of thoughts came to mind. The Diocese was inspired to consider the legacies of the late Elder Statesman, Chief Christian Chukwuma Onoh – former Governor of the Old Anambra State and pioneer Chancellor of the Anglican Diocese of Enugu, who has contributed to the ecclesiastical and political development of the state and nation, and named the school after him. Hence, the name, ‘Christian Chukwuma Onoh College of Education, Hill Top, Ngwo and we are very proud of it”
He explained that as part of their burden for societal transformation, the college was established to address the dwindling quality of education and societal decadence that has become the order of the day.
He said: “The foundation of quality education and sound moral life established by the missionaries who brought to us the gospel is fast eroding away and has become worse since the government take over of schools from mission agencies. The missionaries came with three tools in addition to the gospel: education, healthcare and agriculture.
“However, in considering the other tools, the Gospel is at the foundation of all of them as it is written in Proverbs 9 verse 9 – 10 which says, ‘Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and knowledge of the Holy is understanding’. That is why it has been said that the spiritual controls the physical and that holds sway in every dimensions of human endeavour.
“The Diocese is convinced that she should play a key role in partnership with the government in providing quality education with sound morals to the populace. Currently, the government has pegged the minimum qualification for teaching in our schools at National Certification of Education (NCE). This is aimed to ensure quality teachers and teaching in our schools across board. The Diocese is poised to synergize with the government to ensure that the standard is not let down.”