…Seeks government intervention on staffing, infrastructure
The Provost of the College of Education, Katsina-Ala, COEKA, Dr. Tyodoo Iyue, has appealed to the Benue State Government for urgent intervention to address critical challenges facing the institution as he marks one year in office as substantive Provost.
Dr. Iyue made the appeal on Thursday during an interface with Journalists, who were on an assessment visit to the college to mark his one-year anniversary. The Provost, who assumed office on July 7, 2025, said the past year had recorded modest but significant achievements despite prevailing constraints.
Highlighting the institution’s progress, Dr. Iyue said the most significant milestone was the successful domestication of the Dual Mandate Law by the Benue State House of Assembly in collaboration with the College of Education, Oju. He explained that once assented to by Governor Hyacinth Alia, the law will empower COEKA to run both NCE and degree programmes, expand academic opportunities for students, and reposition the college competitively within Nigeria’s higher education landscape.
The Provost disclosed that within the same period, the college constructed an Early Grade Reading Resources Centre under the 2025 TETFund Special Intervention, and also facilitated student access to NELFUND loans to ease financial constraints and improve enrolment, retention and completion rates.
On staff welfare, Dr. Iyue said promotion exercises were concluded promptly and staff received their letters in October 2025, thereby eliminating delays that previously resulted in the loss of promotion arrears. He said the administration also reactivated the COEKA Alumni Association, which held a successful national conference and renewed its commitment to mentorship, partnership and institutional development.
The Provost further noted that relative peace has been maintained on campus, creating a conducive environment for academic activities as well as the establishment of an entrepreneurship centre for skills acquisition. He commended Governor Hyacinth Alia for creating an enabling environment for education, and expressed appreciation to the College Governing Council, management, staff and students for their support.
Despite these achievements, Dr. Iyue said the college continues to grapple with several pressing challenges that require urgent attention. He cited an acute shortage of academic and non-academic staff occasioned by death and retirement, which he said has affected teaching, learning and administrative efficiency. He also pointed to dilapidated infrastructure, particularly the absence of a befitting Administrative Block to support effective governance and service delivery.
“The lack of access roads to the second campus continues to hinder the commencement of full academic activities, while excessive taxation on the college’s Internally Generated Revenue has significantly constrained its capacity to meet critical needs such as water and electricity.”, he said
Other challenges according to him, include the delay in the signing of the Dual Mandate Bill into law, and the fact that no convocation ceremony has been held since the 2012/2013 academic session. Dr. Iyue also decried the non-confirmation of long-serving support staff who have served the college faithfully over the years, and appealed for their confirmation in recognition of their dedication.
He further raised concerns over incessant theft of school property due to inadequate security personnel to man various beats, and the lack of operational vehicles for principal officers including the Deputy Provosts, the Registrar, the Bursar and the College Librarian.
The Provost added that the ongoing industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Tertiary Institutions in Benue State, ASUTIBS, is also affecting academic activities. He appealed to Governor Alia to assent to the Dual Mandate Bill in order to boost the college’s student population and academic profile.
Dr. Iyue thanked partners including TETFund, NELFUND, JAMB, the National Commission for Colleges of Education, and the Federal Ministry of Education, as well as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for support under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He reiterated that the College of Education, Katsina-Ala remains committed to its vision of becoming one of Nigeria’s foremost Colleges of Education through productivity, innovativeness and operational excellence in teacher education and research.
In his remarks, the Chairman of NUJ Benue State Council, Comrade Bemdoo Ugber, congratulated Dr. Iyue on his visionary leadership and purposeful stewardship over the last one year. He said the assessment visit was in line with the constitutional responsibility of journalists to promote transparency, accountability and good governance, and was not a fault-finding mission.
According to him, presenting a fair and objective account of the Provost’s stewardship will not only inform the public but also attract the attention and support of government, development partners, alumni and other stakeholders toward addressing the institution’s pressing needs.
Comrade Ugber who appealed to the college to support the Council, assured the Provost of the media’s partnership in projecting the achievements of the institution and promoting sustainable development across Benue State.
