Committee of COEs provosts host maiden National Conference in NCCE, Abuja

The Committee of Provosts of Colleges of Education in Nigeria (CPCEN) on Tuesday convened a one-week inaugural biennial online/physical conference to equip teachers on the requisite skills that reckon with modern technologies.

The conference has as its theme “Enhancing the Nigerian Education System for Functionality, Employability, and Global Relevance in the 21st-Century”.The conference took place at the B.O Ukeje Hall, National Commission for Colleges of Education, Abuja.

This is coming after the committee witnessed developmental innovations in the country’s Teacher Preparation Institutions.

Speaking, Chairman of CPCEN, Professor Faruk Rashid Haruna, emaphasised the importance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and how it aligns with the contemporaries especially in the education sector.

“The emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the recent transition of Colleges of Education to Dual Mode are developmental innovations met with a blend of excitement and apprehension”, he said.

He also elaborated that the conference aims to examine the advantages and disadvantages of developments that concern education, acquired skills, and their applicability to the 21st-century job market.

Professor Haruna notified participants about the presence of FLEXISAF, a digital firm, at the conference as both a sponsor and a provider of consultancy services aimed at enhancing revenue efficiency and autonomy through AI-powered solutions specifically designed for colleges.

In his keynote remarks, Honourable Adamu Tanko, Chairman, House Committee on Federal Colleges of Education pointed out that colleges of education have over the years made significant contributions to the development of quality in the country’s education system through the advancement of teacher education and bringing into the front banner the role of teachers as a profession.

He emphasized that the role of education in positively influencing those in positions of authority to ensure effective administration and governance is unquestionable. He stated, “In fact, our educational approaches should evolve to incorporate new dimensions that promote the integration of Nigerian citizens into the principles of good governance. This evolution will bolster our education system, enhance its functionality, and improve its global relevance in the 21st-century.”

However, Honorable Adamu praised the leadership of CPCEN for their initiative, lauding the conference theme as fitting and timely given the challenges facing Nigeria’s educational system and its potential regarding functionality, employability, and relevance on the global stage.

Meanwhile, Professor Paulinus Chijioke Okwelle, the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education in his address (NCCE), emphasized that employability serves as the connection between education and economic participation. He emphasized that our education system should act as a catalyst for producing a workforce capable of addressing present industry demands and predicting and shaping future economic developments. To accomplish this goal, collaboration between academia and industry is not merely optional but essential.

“Our collective presence in this hall is more than just a convergence of minds; it is a commitment to the future of our great nation, an acknowledgement of the pivotal role education plays in shaping destinies, and shared vision for a Nigeria that stands not only as a continental powerhouse but as a global force” he said.

Professor Okwelle, speaking on the conference theme, said it underscores the urgent need for comprehensive reform. ” As we delve into the complexities of this mission, let us bear in mind that education is the cornerstone of societal development, the foundation upon which innovation, prosperity and progress are built”

Also, the Executive Secretary of NCCE urged participants during their discussions to prioritize moving beyond mere rhetoric and embracing tangible solutions.

Dr. Yekini Tokunbo Mouhammed, Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC), expressed that the inspiration for the inaugural conference stemmed from the necessity to address contemporary topics such as Artificial Intelligence and the Dual-mode of Colleges of Education within the academia.

During the conference, Professor Benson Yusuf Baha delivered a paper titled ‘The Potential and Challenges of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Education: Developing a Framework to Address the Ethical Implications of AI in Nigeria.’

The conference’s highlights included sendforth of retiring Provosts, unveiling of the amended constitution of the Committee of Provosts, certificate presentations and cultural displays.