The Governor of Cross River State, Senator Prince Bassey Otu, has pledged to support efforts to upgrade the Federal College of Education (FCE), Obudu, to a Federal University of Education, assuring that the State Government would advocate for the institution’s elevation in collaboration with the state’s representatives in the National Assembly.
Governor Otu, represented by his deputy, Rt. Hon. Dr. Peter Odey, gave the assurance when the Chairman of the 8th Governing Council of the College, Hon. Abdullahi Ahmed, paid a courtesy visit to the State Government at the Government House, Calabar, on Wednesday.
The Deputy Governor expressed delight at the visit, describing it as a welcome sign of renewed synergy between the Federal College of Education, Obudu, and the State Government. He noted that such engagement had not occurred in many years and commended the College for its longstanding contribution to teacher education in Cross River State and across Nigeria.
Odey, who highlighted the institution’s age, academic capacity and strategic importance to teacher education in the South-South geopolitical zone, said the College had become ripe for an upgrade to university status. He cited its offering of bachelor’s degree programmes in affiliation with the University of Calabar since 2011 and the absence of a University of Education in the South-South geopolitical zone. He added that all other geopolitical zones in the country already had universities of education.
While acknowledging that the renaming or conversion of federal institutions falls within the purview of the Federal Government, Governor Otu assured that the State Government would advocate for the institution to be named Joseph Wayas College or University of Education, as appropriate.
Earlier, Hon. Ahmed appealed to the State Government to assist the College with solar power installations to address unreliable electricity supply and the high cost of diesel. He also requested support for the provision of buses to ease transportation between the College’s two campuses in Obudu and Obanliku Local Government Areas.
The Council Chairman expressed confidence that, with the support and advocacy of the State Government, the conversion of the Federal College of Education, Obudu, into a Federal University of Education would become a reality.
He also conveyed the goodwill of the Governing Council, Management, staff and students of the Federal College of Education, Obudu, to Governor Otu and Deputy Governor Odey, wishing them success in their forthcoming elections.
The Chairman was accompanied on the visit by the Provost of the College, Dr. Richard Ugbaha Utubaku; the Registrar, Dr. Evans Osakwe Ikenya; Navy Capt. Charles I. Ogwa (Rtd.); Dr. Mohammed Maru; and other members of the Governing Council.
Deputy Governor’s Press Unit,
Government House, Calabar
October 14, 2026
#crsdgpressunit
