The Provost Federal Cooperative College Oji River Enugu State, Dr. Owan Obodagu Tonica has called on federal government to increase the tempo of encouragement and promotion of cooperative studies amongst Nigerians.
He said that cooperative studies is of paramount importance in the drive to grow and advance national economy.
The FCCO Provost in a press release said that government should as a matter of public policy encourage and ensure that Nigerians acquired cooperative education through procedural cum mentorship trainings.
He noted that cooperative education has helped tremendously to build and sustain the economy of many nations as it encouraged division of labour and specialisation.
The Provost stated that the Federal Cooperative College Oji River has since inception been a haven for the production of Nigerians with consummate cooperative skills necessary for economic revival and social cohesion.
Unlike public universities in the country, he said the Federal Cooperative College Oji River does not embark on strike actions and academic calendars are not interrupted or tampered with as students enjoyed quality time with their studies and also graduate in record time for the mandatory one year National Youth Service programme.
Enumerating other advantages of the institution, the Provost said that Federal Cooperative College Oji River is under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture where apart from what one is studying, the institution equips one with hands-on skills that would enable him or her fit in properly into the larger society and help to alleviate poverty through inventions and innovations.
The Provost also explained that another very important benefit of studying at the college is it’s zero tolerance for cultism adding that students of the institution enjoyed uninterrupted power supply, steady water supply and above all, study in a very tranquil and serene environment devoid of cult clashes.
He said the college is gearing up for a smooth transition with projects springing up as the federal government plans to have a Cooperative University in the country.
The Provost assured that no stone will be left unturned to ensure that the Federal Cooperative College Oji River is used as one of the campuses amongst the three Federal Cooperative Colleges in the country.
According to him, the college also intends to change its status from a cooperative college to a cooperative polytechnic pointing out that the school is currently on standby to embrace these changes upon arrival.
Also the college internal auditor, Mr. Daniel Chukwudi Okeze, informed that the college is currently building an administrative block for lecturers and more lecture halls for students.
He said street lights within and outside the college have been completed and other facilities provided just to ensure that the welfare of students are intact and equally guarantee better working conditions for the staff.
Meanwhile the newly elected President of the Students’ Union Government, comrade Sunday Obinna Edegbe said that students’ welfare is top on the agenda of the authorities of Federal Cooperative College Oji River Enugu State.
Mr Edegbe who stated that the school has five accredited programmes running, maintained that the essence of cooperative education can not be overemphasized.
He noted that such education is needed amongst Nigerians especially now that disunity seemed to be the order of the day in the country.
The SUG president also noted that the authorities of the Federal Cooperative College Oji River Enugu State is firm about the welfare of students.
He said apart from the college medical centre, it is also partnering hospitals to ensure that students got the best of healthcare adding that the college management provided security to ensure students are safe and water boreholes to ensure availability of water.
The SUG president stated that cooperative colleges are the cheapest institutions of higher learning where one can acquire education without tears in Nigeria.
“the tuition fee at the Federal Cooperative College Oji River is cheap and very affordable. The Provost Dr. Owan Obodagu Tonica has done a massive renovation of the school such that it has become the cynosure of cooperative colleges in the country.
/Raymond Ozoji
