By; Mohammed Kawu, Bauchi
In compliance with the national board for technical education (NBTE) and attainment of national policy on digital literacy by the year 2023, the Bauchi state government has established a college of education (technical) to produce graduates that will be self-reliance as entrepreneurs.
The State Commissioner for Higher Education & Regional Development, Dr. Lydia Haruna Tsammani said that the college was established to address employment problem of graduating students in the state who graduate without necessarily getting the white-collar jobs.
Dr. Lydia Tsammani who was showcasing her ministry’s scorecard at the re-introduced ministerial press briefing in Bauchi Friday, said that the law establishing the college and names of it’s principal officers have already been submitted to the National Commission for Colleges of Education, for recognition and introduction.
The commissioner also disclosed that the Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic (ATAP) was this year in receipt of TETfund normal allocation of N550 million as physical infrastructure/programme upgrade with three work plans for projects.
The work plans are the provision of internet connectivity networking CCTV camera and multi-media equipment, supply of computer desk tops and furniture, as well as the supply of motor vehicles, Toyota Hilux and an 18-seater bus for monitoring and students’ academic trips.
Dr. Lydia Tsammani similarly spelt out the state government’s intervention to the polytechnic for the accreditation of all expired NCE programmes in November, 2023 in the sum of N20 million, and N15 million for ND and HND accreditation/reaccreditation/resource inspection.
Also according to the commissioner, the sum of N3.5 billion was expended on the construction of roads network in the polytechnic, while 25 hectares of land was acquired for expansion of the institution.
The commissioner enumerated other tertiary institutions of the state to include College of Administration and Social Studies, College of Agriculture, Adamu Tafawa Balewa College of Education, AD Rufa’i College of Education, Aminu Saleh College of Education.
Mrs Tsammani explained that the supervisory role of her ministry included ensuring that laws and policies are followed as laid down by the various regulatory bodies such as NUC, NCCE, NBTE, and the National Policy on Education.
“The ministry is also responsible for the coordination of external aid to tertiary institutions in the state that include intervention funds from Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund), as well as ensure quality control”.
Tsammani said her ministry also formulate general guidelines aimed at maintenance of educational standard, particularly in private tertiary institutions abound in the state, and supervise budget preparation and estimates for the tertiary institutions.
Ministry for Higher Education and Regional Development in Bauchi has similarly reduced proliferation of private tertiary institutions in the state without registration from 49 to 12 after following due process.
She further revealed that a Computer Centre was established at the College of Agriculture in Bauchi christened ‘Kaura ICT Centre’.
“The State Government under the dynamic and purposeful leadership of Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed also paid scholarship allowances for the year 2023 to 19, 191 students to the tune of N413.8 million, while another N38 million was also paid as foreign scholarship to indigenous students studying abroad.
Commissioner Lydia Tsammani said that the Bauchi state scholarship board had on behalf of the government paricipated in bi-lateral agreement between Nigeria and member countries of Egypt, Algeria, Cyprus, Brazil, Russia, China, among others, which accorded the state indigenes the rare opportunity to obtain full scholarship for her indigenes.
Under her ministry, Lydia Tsammani concluded, the scholarship board just secured approval of grant of N120 million to Sheikh Dahiru Foundation to assist state students who gained scholarship to study in Algeria, as the board’s staff have attended courses, conferences, meetings and educational forums to improve their skills and capacity.
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