An interview with the Provost,
Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka
Dr. S.O. Olusanya
Question
Sir, the College community is interested in your opinion on the proposed affiliation with the University of Benin (UNIBEN) and the status of Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUTMINNA).
Provost
Thank you very much, you are right that we have affiliation with FUTMINNA and the Affiliation still remains. We have discussed it in the Council and approval has been given that we can be affiliated to more than one University. We considered the fact that FUTMINNA does not cover all the courses offered by the College at NCE level, and the charges FUTMINNA is requesting for per student is on the high side. This prompted the College writing UNIBEN and luckily they accepted. They sent their experts to our College to look at our facilities and the lecturers we have. The UNIBEN Senate has approved the affiliation.
The affiliation with University of Benin awaits NUC accreditation to confirm what (UNIBEN) has approved.
UNIBEN is offering all the courses offered by the College e.g School of Business, and Vocational Education and their charges are considerable. Invariably, we would have interested students with options and they will have opportunity to make choices in their courses.
Question
Sir, the community seeks your clarification as regards what happens to the College conferences since TETFUND is now responsible for most of the training programmes?
Provost
We are very passionate about the issue of sponsorship TETFUND being responsible for most of the training programmes does not mean that College Management is not sponsorship staff for conferences. College is still sponsoring staff in spite of TETFUND’s sponsorship. If fund from TEFUND is available, College will not spend its internally generated revenue (IGR) until all of TETFUND fund is absorbed, although College may not be able to sponsor as much as TETFUND does.
Question
On the shortage of office space sir, what is management doing to address the situation.
Provost
The issues of office space for staff accomodation is a capital project, we need expansion and we always put it in our proposals but the way fund is being released for projects is not encouraging and this determines the pace of work on ground for example, the building behind the Registrar’s block is a captial project that has been on for years but no availability of fund has made it look as if nothing is been done.
Question
On the land across the canal sir, has UNILAG finally ceded the land to the College and in view of the current insecurity in the country sir, what measures are been put in place to secure life and property within the College?
Provost
Federal Ministry of Education has directed UNILAG to cede 4.5 hectares of the land across the canal to FCE (T), Akoka. Since NEEDS Assessment committee wrote to the president on the land expansion which is a major constraint for development in the College and that the land across the canal will be used for another Campus. The Ministry has given us the go-ahead to continue with the project. The issue of insecurity is highly taken care of since College security officers are well equipped.
Question
Sir, the College community is curious about what your challenges are and what you have been facing as the Provost of the College. How have you been copying?
Provost
Thank you very much, the major challenge we are facing is finance. Fund released to the Colleges as over-head is inadequate. Certain categories of staff like cleaners, gardeners and security officers were severed because there was a promise that government will engage contractors and pay them but payment was delayed by the government and the College had to pay through the IGR which is grossly inadequate.
Being a Technical College, there is no programme that is run without electricity. Electricity is another big challenge since power supply has not been very regular. Alternative electricity supply i.e. the running of generators to improve electricity amounts to heavy consumption of diesel.
A staff has been engaged solely to monitor power supply and diesel consumption because of outrageous bills given to the College by electricity company as a result of the former Meter we had which was faulty. The new Meter has been brought and installed. Since the new person in charge of the electricity came in, meter readings are now being used for payment of bills. Bills have been reduced from the former monthly payment of 1.6 million Naira to six hundred thousand Naira (N600,000.00) monthly.
Question
On the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) out-break in the country, the entire College community is frightened on the issue. Sir, what measures are in place to prevent the spread in the College?
Provost
A sensitization programme will hold to educate the entire College by the Lagos State Ministry of Health on Tuesday 26th August, 2014 to create awareness on Ebola virus disease. The clinic has been well equipped. Water is provided in the clinic and around the College for regular washing of hands. Also, hand gloves have been provided, flexi banners on Ebola virus disease education awareness has been pasted at strategic positions within the college.
Question
Sir, we see that you are looking very fresh and young, how do your unwine in order to cope with the stressful work schedule?
Provost
Well, it’s the grace of God, the office is challenging but I plan my time, I eat good food and do a lot of gymnastics and also rest since sitting for hours attending meeting take most of my time.
Question
There seems to be a regulated usage of the internet in College presently, how do you intend to stabilize the continuous usage of internet and what else can be put in place to generate internal fund sir?
Provost
The interest is still on. We put it off in the course of the strike action that took place. Since it was on and the money was being wasted, we asked ICT to put if off and to ressume the usage when the strike is called off. Very soon, ICT will go round offices to educate people on the use of internet. Another project we are trying to put in place to generate fund to boost the Colleges’ IGR is a pure water factory.
We will also source for fund from TETFUND specially to construct lecture Theaters and classrooms across the canal and to complete the building left on ground to a final stage. It is also interesting to note that the bridge across the canal is almost completed.
Committee
On behalf of the other committee members we say thank you sir.