The Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has announced plans to establish the Kwara State University of Education. In a statement released by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, it was revealed that Professor Shuaib Abdulraheem, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, has been appointed as the chairman of the study, planning, and implementation committee for the university.
The committee, comprised of 11 members, includes individuals such as Deacon Pastor Afolayan J. Babatunde, Professor (Mrs) Medinat Salman, and Engineer Sa’ad Belgore, among others. With Professor Abdulraheem at the helm, the committee will work on developing the modalities for the establishment, functioning, and funding of the university.
Preliminary efforts have already been initiated by the administration to establish the university of education, utilizing one of the three existing Colleges of Education as the launchpad. Additionally, the state is also working towards having one of the Colleges of Education in Abuja adopted as a Federal College of Education. The remaining College of Education will adopt a dual-mode approach, allowing it to issue bachelor’s degrees in accordance with the recent laws governing Colleges of Education in Nigeria.
The establishment of the Kwara State University of Education aims to address the need for a state-owned specialized university that focuses on education. The committee will be responsible for developing the rationale and justification for this university, which will include an assessment of the existing conventional colleges or universities that may not meet the eligibility criteria for automatic registration with the Teachers’ Registration Council.
With the appointment of Professor Abdulraheem and the formation of the committee, Kwara State is taking a significant step towards enhancing the quality of education in the state. The establishment of the Kwara State University of Education will provide a platform for training educators who are equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to excel in their profession. This initiative also highlights the commitment of the state government to investing in the future of education in Kwara.
