The Federal College of Education (FCE), Yola, has graduated 3,555 students at its 16th combined convocation, with the Provost calling on the Federal Government to upgrade the institution to a university of education.
The ceremony was held on Saturday, October 24, 2026, in Yola.
The Provost, Dr. Mohammed Degereji, said the graduands comprise 1,818 students from the 2024 session and 1,737 from the 2025 session. All of them were presented for the award of the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE).
According to him, the output is a great boost for the teaching profession in Adamawa State, the North-East and the country at large.
Dr. Degereji then made his case for an upgrade. He said it would give the college powers to run degree courses in all its departments and allow it to expand.
“Upgrading this institution to university of education is going add value to our degrees and it will expand students enrollment and also increase staff capacity”, he said.
The Federal Government, however, appears unwilling to grant the request, according to the report.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Education, Dr. Morufu Alausa, said FCE Yola already has a dual academic role, producing both degrees and NCE graduates.
The minister was represented by the Director of Colleges of Education, Dr. Uchenna Ubah.
He said strong institutions are built on committed leadership, adding that President Bola Tinubu’s administration sees education as a pillar of national development.
“We are repositioning colleges of education to produce quality teachers, by promoting skills development and enhance digital learning”, he said.
Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, represented by his deputy, Prof. Faruata Kaletapwa, said his administration has invested heavily in education.
He said the 2026 approved budget gave priority attention to the sector. Key bodies such as the Adamawa State Universal Basic Education Board, the Mass Education Board and the Post-Primary Schools Management Board all received significant funds.
The governor said this shows how important FCE Yola is in supplying manpower to schools across the state.
He added that the state has introduced a Teacher Recruitment, Deployment and Retention Policy to reshape teacher education, and urged the college to align with it.
Digital Operations Manager at The Students Forum Nigeria.
