Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State has lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the commencement of degree programmes at the Federal College of Education (Technical), Gombe, describing it as a significant step in enhancing the institution’s capacity to train future professionals.
The governor made this remark while receiving the Governing Council and Management of the college during a courtesy visit on Tuesday to the Government House, Gombe.
He emphasized that Nigeria’s greatest resource is its youthful population, stressing the importance of equipping young people with quality education and technical skills to drive national development.
“We have the numbers; about 65% of our population are youths under the age of 30. If given the necessary training and empowerment, they will develop the country and reduce our reliance on foreign nations for skilled labour,” Yahaya said.
The governor urged the college’s management to design high-quality degree programmes that align with Nigeria’s industrial and technological needs.
Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to supporting education at all levels, he cited initiatives such as the establishment of the Faculty of Environmental Sciences at Gombe State University’s Dukku campus and ongoing collaborations with Michigan University to establish a Faculty of Agriculture.
“We are ready to support the college and give it the necessary push to improve and expand its impact,” he assured.
Yahaya also highlighted the state’s 22-kilometer gully erosion control project, which he said was aimed at curbing environmental challenges affecting the college and surrounding communities.
“In addition to the gully erosion control project we conducted, we will also consider putting more structures in the college,” he stated, directing the Commissioner for Higher Education to engage with the college’s council to identify priority areas for intervention.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Governing Council, Dr. Lazarus Gaza, praised Governor Yahaya’s investment in education and support for federal institutions in the state.
“Our visit is to strengthen collaboration with the host community for mutual benefits for the college, government, and stakeholders,” he said.
He noted that FCE(T) Gombe had integrated skill and vocational training into its academic curriculum to promote self-reliance, adding that the institution is now set to offer degree programmes independently, without university affiliation.
Dr. Gaza described Governor Yahaya as a “Teacher-Friendly Governor” and commended his Mega Schools initiative across senatorial districts, which he said would help address the issue of out-of-school children in the state.
He also appreciated the governor’s financial assistance to the college, particularly his intervention in controlling gully erosion, which saved the institution from severe environmental degradation.
In his remarks, the Provost of the College, Prof. Ali Adamu, mni, expressed the college’s readiness to collaborate with the state government in vocational skills training for Gombe’s youth.
