A total of 15,139 students celebrated their academic achievements on Saturday as the Federal College of Education (FCE) Yola held its 15th combined convocation. This significant event also marked the college’s 50th anniversary and coincided with the launch of the Nigerian College of Education Games (NICEGA), which commenced on November 1.

The convocation included the presentation of honorary awards to 11 distinguished individuals. Among the honorees was Professor Kaletapwa Farauta, the Adamawa State Deputy Governor, who earned her NCE from FCE Yola in 1987, just 13 years after the college was established as the Federal Advanced Teachers College in 1974.

During the ceremony, Provost Mohammed Degereji expressed his gratitude to both federal and state governments, as well as TETFUND, staff, and students, for their unwavering support in achieving several milestones for the institution. He urged the federal government to consider upgrading FCE Yola to a degree-awarding university of education, reflecting on the college’s long history and its contributions to teacher training.

Minister of Education Tunji Alausa, represented by Dr. Yusuf Saeed, the Director of Response, Coordination, and Service Improvement, reiterated the government’s commitment to improving education through initiatives such as the Nigerian Education Loan Fund. He assured the audience that he would present the college’s request for an upgrade to the appropriate authorities.

The celebrations not only recognized the hard work and dedication of the graduating students but also highlighted the ongoing efforts to enhance educational standards in Nigeria.