By Tony Ezike
Distinguished Senator Uche Ekwunife, CON, has been honoured as a Fellow of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Umunze, joining the distinguished list of personalities who have received the institution’s highest award.
The prestigious Distinguished College Fellowship Award is reserved for individuals who have made significant contributions to the development of the college and society at large. Previous recipients include the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe; former Vice President of Nigeria, the late Dr. Alex Ekwueme; among other distinguished personalities.
Ekwunife was honoured in recognition of her contributions and support to the institution, particularly her intervention in providing hundreds of laptops and other digital devices to enhance teaching and learning during the previous administration.
Speaking after receiving the award, Ekwunife expressed appreciation to the Provost, Dr. Ejezie Virginia Nonye, the management, heads of departments and the entire college community for finding her worthy of the honour.
She described the fellowship as a prestigious recognition that she would not take for granted, stressing that her support for the institution was motivated by her belief in the transformative power of education.
Ekwunife also highlighted the historical and intellectual contributions of the institution, noting that the old Aguata Union, to which her hometown, Igbo-Ukwu, belongs, has a strong connection with the college.
According to her, the institution has produced prominent Nigerians who have excelled in politics, public administration, education and other fields, including the late former Vice President, Chief Alex Ekwueme; former Anambra State Governor, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife; Governor Chukwuma Soludo; former Minister of Information, Prof. Dora Akunyili; former Chairman of the National Electoral Commission, Prof. Humphrey Nwosu, and host of other prominent personalities.
She added that she was also proud to be counted among the institution’s products, having served as a member of the House of Representatives and as a senator.
Explaining her intervention in the college, Ekwunife said she responded to a request for computerised devices several years ago by ensuring that a considerable number of laptops were provided to the institution. She said the intervention was not undertaken for recognition but because the college needed the equipment at the time, stressing that investment in education is an investment in the future.
“Education is everything,” she said, while urging the institution’s teachers to continuously improve their capacity through training and professional development. Ekwunife described teachers as the foundation of human-resource development and encouraged the college to sustain its contribution to the education sector as the profession continues to evolve.
She further pledged to facilitate a meeting between the college management and the leadership of the National Assembly to explore possible legislative support aimed at equipping and developing the institution.
While commending the governor for the construction of strategic access roads and other infrastructural development in the college, Ekwunife urged him to do more if possible, emphasizing that no investment is too much when it comes to education.
In their remarks, the management of the college expressed delight over Ekwunife’s decision to visit the institution personally despite their initial plan to pay her a visit at her residence.
The management commended her past interventions and expressed confidence that, with continued support from distinguished stakeholders such as Ekwunife, the institution could eventually attain the status of a Federal University of Education (Technical), Umunze.
