Provost of the College of Education, Oju, Prof Boniface Odeh, has described his recent Award of Excellence by the Education Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ECAN) as proof that good work does not go unnoticed, urging Nigerians to remain committed to excellence wherever they find themselves.
Speaking to NATIONAL ACCORD shortly after receiving the award in Abuja recently alongside other distinguished Nigerians, the provost said he was surprised that his efforts had attracted national recognition.
“My impression is that not only God sees in secret, people also see in secret,” he said. “Many people believe that whatever you do, only God sees it. But this award has shown me that even when you think you are working quietly in your little corner, people are watching.”
He said he never imagined that the work he had been doing at the college would receive such recognition, describing the honour as a motivation to continue serving diligently.
“I never thought that what I was doing in my small corner here, the whole world was watching me. So, wherever you find yourself, do good and do the best you can,” he added.
Prof. Odeh dedicated the award first to God, whom he credited for his life and achievements, and also acknowledged his parents for raising him. He further dedicated the honour to the Governing Council of the College of Education, Oju, for recommending him for appointment, the Benue State Governor for approving the recommendation, and members of the Education Correspondents Association of Nigeria for recognising his contributions.
Assessing President Bola Tinubu’s performance in the education sector over the past three years, the provost gave the administration a pass mark, describing the ongoing reforms as necessary steps toward rebuilding the sector.
According to him, meaningful reforms often require difficult decisions.
“When you are renovating a building, you must first demolish the parts that need to be rebuilt. That is what the President is doing. Some of the decisions may not be comfortable now, but they are part of the process of rebuilding the education sector,” he said.
He commended reforms affecting colleges of education, particularly changes in admission processes and other policy initiatives, saying they had been positively received by parents.
“As the National President Parent Teachers Association of Nigeria ( NAPTAN), I can say we are happy with him. There are many reforms taking place in the education sector,” he stated.
On developments at the College of Education, Oju, the provost disclosed that the institution had made significant progress in addressing the backlog of unissued certificates inherited from previous administrations.
He explained that when he assumed office, certificates dating back several years had not been collected from the appropriate authorities, leaving graduates without their credentials.
“Immediately I came on board, we obtained about 13,000 certificates covering earlier sessions. We have also paid over ₦13 million to secure the remaining certificates covering subsequent years, and before the end of this year, all outstanding certificates will be available,” he said.
The provost also announced plans for a combined convocation ceremony, noting that the institution had not held a convocation in about 18 years.
“We are planning a combined convocation in November this year, and everyone is invited,” he said.
Highlighting the transformation of the institution, he said the College of Education, Oju, could now compete favourably with any college of education in the country.
According to him, the college has upgraded its facilities and academic programmes to national standards, with all 28 existing programmes fully accredited.
He further disclosed that the institution had received approval to independently run degree programmes in addition to its Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) courses.
“We are now awarding degrees directly, no longer through affiliation. We have approval to admit both degree and NCE students, and 16 degree programmes have been added to our existing 28 accredited programmes,” he said.
The provost appealed to parents to enrol their children at the College of Education, Oju, assuring them that the institution now offers quality education comparable to, and in some cases better than, many colleges of education across Nigeria.
Among the distinguished recipients was the Provost of the College of Education, Oju, Prof. Boniface Odeh, who was recognized for his transformative leadership.
Other notable awardees included the Minister of Education, Dr. Alausa, the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Isaq Oloyede, Arc. Sunday Echono and others.
