…TETFund pledges support for colleges of education as COEASU honours best NCE students

By: Goodluck E. Adubazi, Abuja.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has declared that every innovation that transforms society is nurtured through education, stressing that every responsible citizen passes through the hands of a teacher.

Alausa reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening teacher education, improving professional development and repositioning colleges of education to produce highly qualified, competent and skilled teachers for national development.

The minister spoke on Wednesday in Abuja at the 2026 International Teachers’ Day celebration organised by the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), with the theme, “Standing with Teachers: 60 Years of Protecting the Profession, Advancing Its Status and Shaping Our Future.”

Represented by the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), Dr. Angela Ajala, the minister described teachers as a critical pillar of national development and said the government recognised its responsibility to strengthen the teaching profession.

“Every innovation that transforms society is nurtured through education. Every responsible citizen passes through the hands of a teacher,” Alausa said.

He explained that the Federal Government was implementing reforms to reposition teacher education and ensure that Nigeria produced highly qualified, competent, professionally grounded and skilled teachers.

According to him, the implementation of the dual-mandate policy would enable eligible colleges of education to offer both the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) and approved degree programmes in education, subject to relevant accreditation requirements.

He said the policy was designed to expand access to quality teacher education and strengthen the professional preparation of educators.

The minister noted that digital technology, artificial intelligence, evolving teaching methods, inclusive education and emerging social challenges were changing the classroom, making continuous learning and professional development essential for teachers.

He said the government was pursuing initiatives to strengthen teachers’ professionalism, including the Accelerated Teacher Professionalisation Pathway (ATPP), which provides a structured route towards professional certification and licensing for eligible non-professional teachers already engaged in teaching.

Alausa added that the ministry was expanding opportunities for teachers to access professional development through digital platforms and other capacity-building initiatives.

“Our objective is clear: a teacher must never be left behind by the very changes he or she attempts to teach,” he said.

The minister commended COEASU for its continued engagement in the development of teacher education and the colleges of education subsector, assuring stakeholders of the government’s commitment to constructive dialogue, mutual respect and responsible partnership in addressing legitimate concerns affecting the sector.

The minister described the presentation of scholarships to outstanding NCE students across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones as an investment in the future of the teaching profession.

He urged the beneficiaries to uphold professional ethics, embrace innovation and maintain academic excellence, reminding them that the classroom remained one of the most important places where Nigeria’s future was shaped.

Alausa also commended the proposed unveiling of the maiden edition of the COEASU academic journal, describing it as a commendable initiative that would promote research, documentation, scholarly debate and evidence-based practices in education.

He encouraged the union’s leadership to sustain the publication and develop it into a credible platform for scholarship, professional exchange and policy-relevant research.

According to him, reforms in teacher education must be guided not only by government policy but also by research, evidence and the lived experiences of teachers and learners.

The minister added that International Teachers’ Day was a time for reflection, appreciation and renewed commitment to the teaching profession.

He assured teachers that their sacrifices and contributions were recognised, urging all stakeholders to work together towards strengthening education in Nigeria.

Similarly, the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Arch. Sonny Echono, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to supporting colleges of education and other public tertiary institutions across the country.

Echono described the celebration as an opportunity to recognise teachers’ dedication, celebrate academic excellence and reflect on the critical role of the teaching profession in shaping Nigeria’s future.

He said the theme was a timely reminder that no education system could rise above the quality, commitment and professional capacity of its teachers.

According to him, teachers are central to national development, making their continuous training, welfare and professional advancement priorities that require sustained attention.

“At the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, we recognise that strengthening teacher education requires sustained investment in the people who teach, the institutions in which they work, and the knowledge they generate,” Echono said.

He explained that this understanding informed TETFund’s continued support for colleges of education and other public tertiary institutions nationwide.
His remarks highlighted the importance of investing in educators, strengthening institutions and promoting knowledge development to improve the quality of education.

The President of COEASU, Comrade Dr. Ahmed Lawan Bazza, disclosed that about 17 federal colleges of education were ready to adopt the dual-mandate policy.

Speaking with journalists at the event, Bazza expressed optimism about the implementation of the policy, saying the government remained committed to the initiative.

He said TETFund would play a critical role in supporting participating institutions, referring to a proposed funding commitment of ₦2 billion per college to facilitate the implementation of the dual mandate.

The COEASU president expressed confidence that the initiative would strengthen teacher education and expand opportunities for colleges of education.

Bazza also explained that the selection of scholarship beneficiaries was based on academic merit and competitive examinations.

According to him, each participating college nominates its best NCE student based on cumulative grade point average (CGPA), after which the selected students compete in examinations at zonal centres.

The best-performing student in each geopolitical zone is selected, while the six zonal winners proceed to another examination to determine the overall national winner.

He said the process was designed to ensure transparency and recognise outstanding academic performance among prospective teachers.

Bazza also addressed concerns surrounding the exclusion of NCE students from the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) process, saying discussions and work on the relevant guidelines were ongoing.

He declined to make further comments on the issue, explaining that the process was still being worked out and that the union did not want to make a statement that could contradict the ongoing discussions.

The issue remains significant to NCE students seeking clarity on their progression to further studies and the policies governing their educational opportunities.

The celebration featured the presentation of awards to outstanding NCE students representing Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, with Paulinus Miracle of the Federal College of Education, Ididep, Akwa Ibom State, emerging as the overall best student.
Miracle, representing the South-South zone, received a cash prize of ₦1 million in recognition of her academic performance.

Other zonal winners included Peter Moses Ejegela of the Federal College of Education, Odugbo, Benue State, representing the North-Central zone; Isah Alhamdu of the Federal University of Education, Zaria, Kaduna State, representing the North-West; and John Eve of the Federal College of Education, Yola, Adamawa State, representing the North-East.

The other winners were Onwugamba Ogechi Mary of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Umunze, Anambra State, representing the South-East, and Ngragu Ukamaka Martina of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka, Lagos State, representing the South-West.

The scholarship initiative was designed to recognise academic excellence and encourage outstanding students preparing for careers in teaching.

Speaking after receiving the award, Miracle described her emergence as the overall best NCE student as a humbling and exciting experience, expressing gratitude to COEASU for the recognition and encouragement.

“I feel very humble, first of all, and I feel so excited. I can’t even express my feelings with words. I’m so grateful to the union for this encouragement and empowerment,” she said.

She likened the scholarship to a seed planted for the future, expressing hope that the recognition would yield positive results in her teaching career.

Miracle, who described teaching as a profession she was passionate about, said her childhood experience with a teacher who encouraged her despite her struggles with stammering influenced her decision to become an educator.

She recalled that while some teachers denied her opportunities available to other children, a teacher she identified as Auntie Esther encouraged her, helping her build the confidence and self-esteem she has today.

According to her, the experience demonstrated the power of teachers to influence students’ lives and reinforced her passion for the profession.

“I don’t really think there is anything frustrating in being a teacher, aside from the fact that they are not rewarded handsomely when it comes to the financial aspect. Teaching, for me, is a very good profession,” she said.

She described teaching as a profession central to national development, arguing that no country could achieve meaningful progress without quality education and dedicated teachers.

However, Miracle called on the government to review teachers’ salaries and improve their welfare, insisting that the education sector deserved greater investment because of its importance to every other sector of the economy.

“I would love the financial aspect, or should I say, the pay of teachers, to be increased or looked into. As a nation, teachers should be rewarded. In fact, the education sector should have the best because tell me, what is a nation without education or without teachers being able to pass this knowledge across?” she asked.

She also commended her lecturers at the Federal College of Education, Ididep, for the quality of teaching and preparation they provided, noting that several subjects covered in the scholarship examination had been taught extensively in the classroom.