Ex Oyo Speaker, Niran asks Makinde to upgrade Oyo College of Education to degree institution

By Christiana Ekpa

Former Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Asimiyu Niran Alarape has enjoined Governor Seyi Makinde to commence the process of upgrading the Emmanuel Alayande College of Education (EACOED) Oyo to a degree-awarding institution.

Alarape who is currently representing Atiba State constituency in the State House of Assembly, gave this admonition on Tuesday in Ibadan.

Alarape who is the minority leader of the current 9th Assembly in the State, appealed to Makinde to commence the process of upgrading the college immediately.

Recall that the Oyo State Executive Council had on March 17, 2021, announced its plan to upgrade the College to a degree-awarding institution.

Alarape explained that the upgrade was long overdue, considering the available facilities in the college.

He said some states like Sokoto, Ekiti, Delta, Edo, Ogun, Rivers and Lagos have already upgraded their Colleges of Education to degree institutions, insisting that doing so, would help put an end to the discrimination against Oyo State students who are seeking admission into other institutions.

“I want to appeal to Governor Seyi Makinde to put machinery in place for the commencement of upgrading of Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, EACOED to a degree-awarding institution.

“The announcement to that effect was made about ten months ago and since then nothing has been done.

“If the College is upgraded, it will help in addressing and optimizing the limited funds the government earmarks for tertiary education.

“Our people in Oyo town will be so glad once the College is upgraded. I make bold to say that not many degree-awarding institutions can compete with EACOED in terms of facilities”, he said.