The Federal Ministry of Education has reaffirmed its commitment to prioritising scholarships for students pursuing careers in teaching and education-related fields.
The Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Sununu revealed this during a meeting with the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Colleges of Education Students (NANCES), in Abuja on Wednesday.
Sununu emphasised that, in line with the Ministry’s mandate to prioritise education and improve its quality, the 2024 budget includes substantial funding for local scholarships.
He said these scholarships were specifically designed to benefit students enrolled in education and teaching programmes across tertiary institutions, particularly those pursuing the National Certificate in Education (NCE).
“The Federal Ministry of Education is taking significant steps to ensure that education, especially the teaching profession, receives the attention it deserves.
“We understand that the future of our education system depends on the quality and dedication of our teachers, that is why our scholarship initiatives are focused on this critical area,” he said.
Also, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Sani Gwarzo, highlighted that the Ministry was placing a strong emphasis on the teaching profession as a whole.
Gwarzo mentioned that the Ministry had received Presidential approval for key projects aimed at enhancing teacher training and support.
“These efforts reflect our deep commitment not only to expanding access to education but also to improving the quality of teaching.
“With the President’s support, we are confident that these initiatives will lead to a significant transformation in Nigeria’s educational landscape,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary, National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), Prof. Paulinus Okwelle, expressed his gratitude to the two Ministers for their prompt and decisive action in ensuring the implementation of the dual mandates.
“If all continues as planned, there will be no obstacles to implementing the dual mandate by the next academic session”.
He emphasised that JAMB was fully engaged, with awareness efforts well underway.
According to him, the admission process, especially for direct entry candidates transitioning from these sections, is on course. JAMB is prepared and ready to move forward.
Speaking on behalf of the Union, the Secretary General of NANCES, Tunji Olagunju , expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for the 50 per cent electricity subsidy provided to Colleges of Education.
Olagunju thanked the president for signing into law the Dual Mandate in the Federal Colleges of Education Act, 2023.
The Act, currently being implemented by the Federal Ministry of Education, mandates that Federal Colleges of Education offer both the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) and Degree programmes concurrently.
The Ministry has developed a comprehensive implementation framework to ensure the seamless execution of this Dual Mandate. (NAN)