By Our Reporter
It was a moment of pride, reflection and institutional advancement as the Federal College of Education, FCE Obudu community gathered on Friday, 24 April 2026, at the Greg Ngaji Lecture Theatre for a landmark merged ceremony featuring the 1st Dual Mandate Degree Matriculation, the 43rd NCE Matriculation and the 5th Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) Induction Ceremony.
The event, which attracted dignitaries, traditional rulers, education stakeholders, parents and well-wishers, marked a defining chapter in the 44-year history of the FCE Obudu.
In his address, the Provost of the College, Dr Richard Ugbaha Utubaku, expressed gratitude to God for His grace upon the College, noting that the College has remained steadfast and has now recorded a landmark of 44 years of existence.
He described the matriculation ceremony as “a solemn academic covenant and a statutory gateway through which students are formally admitted,” emphasising that it was an important academic tradition that ushers students into the responsibilities and privileges of academic life.
Addressing the pioneer set of autonomous degree students under the Dual Mandate and the 43rd batch of NCE students, the Provost charged them to shun all forms of anti-social behaviour, warning against cultism and examination malpractice. He urged them to embrace discipline, diligence and moral uprightness as they pursue their academic goals.
In what he described as a significant milestone for the College, Dr Utubaku announced that the College has now formally commenced its degree programmes autonomously, ending its former affiliation arrangement with the University of Calabar. According to him, the College now awards its own degrees under the regulatory supervision of the National Universities Commission, thereby opening a new era of academic independence and institutional growth.
He stated that the College possesses not only the human capacity but also world-class infrastructure to support this advancement. According to him, the institution boasts ICT-enabled lecture theatres, fully equipped science, vocational and language laboratories, functional micro-teaching laboratories, a modern e-library with access to global databases, TETFund-sponsored academic complexes and a 300-capacity computer-based test centre. He stressed that the facilities meet and exceed the benchmark minimum academic standards of both the National Universities Commission and the National Commission for Colleges of Education.
The Provost also used the occasion to appreciate the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the Renewed Hope Agenda, which he said has placed education at the centre of national renewal. He equally commended the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, whose reform-driven leadership, he noted, has transformed the tertiary education landscape.
Speaking on the Dual Mandate initiative, Dr Utubaku explained that the policy is designed to expand access and promote inclusion in higher education. He highlighted its advantages and reiterated the College’s readiness to maximise the opportunities presented by the policy.
On the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), the Provost described the student loan initiative as one of the landmark achievements of the Renewed Hope Agenda, saying it ensures that no willing and qualified Nigerian youth is denied education because of financial challenges. He encouraged students to take advantage of the scheme responsibly, stressing that it removes financial barriers to accessing quality education.
The ceremony also featured the induction of 236 graduates into the teaching profession by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria. Congratulating the inductees, the Provost noted that they had fulfilled all the requirements for professional teaching status and urged them to remain diligent and committed in the discharge of their duties.
“The chalk is now your sword, the classroom your constituency and integrity your watchword,” he told the inductees.
Officials of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria from Abuja were present at the event to conduct the induction. The Registrar/CEO, Dr Mrs Ronke Soyombo, was represented by Dr Mrs Mary Aniekwe, while the Cross River State Coordinator of TRCN, Dr Noah I. Ashibi, also attended the ceremony.
Dr Utubaku thanked parents and guardians for entrusting their children to the College and pledged the College’s commitment to accountability, transparency and the relentless pursuit of quality education.
The event was attended by paramount rulers from Obudu and Obanliku Local Government Areas, clan heads, security personnel, members of the press, staff, friends and well-wishers, all of whom witnessed what many described as a historic and transformative moment in the life of the College.
The merged ceremony not only celebrated the admission of fresh students and the induction of new professional teachers but also signalled the dawn of a new era for the College as it steps confidently into autonomous degree-awarding status.
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