The new College of Education at Billiri, Gombe State, has fully commenced operations with more than 498 registered students for pre-NCE programmes, Dr Esrom Jokthan, the Provost, said.
The provost made the disclosure at the orientation ceremony for new students in Billiri on Friday.
He said the orientation was to prepare the students for courses of study in three schools before the development of the other phase at the permanent site.
He explained that “the structure we have now is a permanent site, only few institutions in Nigeria began from permanent site.
“The College was built by Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State.
“The governor also built 13 senior staff quarters, renovated six five-bedroom staff quarters, renovated the SDP and NRC secretariats and Kalmi Primary School.’’
According to him, the governor has approved the release of N30 million as subvention for the college to date.
The state’s Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Higher Education, Mr Danial Musa, congratulated the students as pioneers of the College and urged them to be serious in order to get admitted into NCE programmes.
He assured them that the state government would continue to do its best toward the development of the institution.
According to him, the state government has approved the purchase of a 32-seater bus for transporting students from the permanent site to the temporary site.
He said the state government was committed to ensure the completion of the second phase of the College to ease the problem of students’ accommodation.