The Federal Government has approved the commencement of degree programmes at the Federal College of Education (Technical), Gombe, marking a significant step in expanding the institution’s capacity to train future professionals.
Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the approval, describing it as a major milestone in advancing tertiary education in Gombe State.
while receiving the Governing Council and Management of the College at the Government House in Gombe, the governor emphasised the importance of education in national development and urged the college management to design high-quality degree programmes aligned with Nigeria’s industrial and technological needs. “We have the numbers; about 65% of our population are youths under the age of 30. If given the necessary training and empowerment, they will develop the country and reduce our reliance on foreign nations for skilled labour,” he said.
Governor Yahaya reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting education at all levels and cited several initiatives, including the establishment of the Faculty of Environmental Sciences at Gombe State University’s Dukku campus and ongoing collaborations with Michigan University to establish a Faculty of Agriculture. “We are ready to support the college and give it the necessary push to improve and expand its impact,” he assured.
As part of his administration’s commitment to the college’s development, the governor referenced the gully erosion control project covering 22 kilometers across multiple communities in the Gombe metropolis, which also benefited the institution.
He further directed the Commissioner for Higher Education to engage with the college’s council to identify priority areas for intervention.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Governing Council, Dr. Lazarus Gaza, praised Governor Yahaya for his investment in education and support for federal institutions in the state.
He noted that FCE (T) Gombe had successfully incorporated skill and vocational training into its curriculum to promote self-reliance. “We are now set to start offering degree programmes without any affiliation with any university or institute of learning, and this will further strengthen our capacity,” Dr. Gaza said.
He commended the governor’s initiatives, particularly the construction of Mega Schools in each senatorial district, which he said would help reduce the number of out-of-school children in the state.
The Provost of the College, Professor Ali Adamu also expressed the college’s willingness to collaborate with the state government on vocational skills training, particularly to benefit the state’s growing youth population.
