UNIZIK Moves Closer to Standalone College of Education Studies as VC Receives Implementation Committee Report
Hope has risen for the establishment of a standalone College of Education Studies at Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka, following the submission of the report of the Committee on its implementation to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ugochukwu Bond Stanley Anyaehie.
The report was formally presented on Thursday, July 2, 2026, during a meeting held at the Vice-Chancellor’s Office in the University’s Administrative Building, marking another significant step towards strengthening teacher education in the institution.
Presenting the report, Chairperson of the Committee, Prof. Clementina Uchenna Agbionu, disclosed that the committee was constituted to develop the modalities for establishing and implementing the proposed College of Education Studies.
She explained that over four weeks, the committee undertook a comprehensive review of relevant policies, consulted selected Nigerian universities already operating standalone Colleges of Education Studies, and assessed institutional data to determine Nnamdi Azikiwe University’s readiness for the initiative.
Prof. Agbionu noted that the committee anchored its work on the National Universities Commission’s (NUC) Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards (BMAS), which recommends that universities offering education programmes should operate standalone Colleges of Education Studies to enhance the administration, coordination and quality of teacher education.
According to her, the committee’s findings confirmed that Nnamdi Azikiwe University possesses the requisite academic manpower, student population and infrastructural capacity to establish the proposed college.
Consequently, the committee recommended that the University’s Management, Senate and Governing Council commence the necessary processes for the establishment of the College of Education Studies, describing the initiative as a strategic investment that would strengthen teacher education and contribute significantly to the production of professionally trained teachers for Anambra State and Nigeria at large.
Receiving the report, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ugochukwu Bond Stanley Anyaehie, commended the committee for its diligence, commitment and thoroughness in carrying out the assignment. He assured members that the University would give due consideration to the recommendations and initiate the necessary administrative processes towards their implementation.
The Vice-Chancellor, however, observed that the establishment of the proposed college would be subject to the approval of the University’s Management, Senate and Governing Council. He further noted that additional institutional arrangements, including the appointment of a Provost and the creation of other administrative structures, would be required before the college becomes operational.
Members of the committee present during the report presentation were Prof. Clementina Uchenna Agbionu (Chairperson), Prof. Abigail Ngozi Alike, Prof. Ebele C. Okigbo, Prof. Nkechi Ikediugwu and Mrs. Ifeoma Umenze.
The submission of the report marks another milestone in Nnamdi Azikiwe University’s drive to expand its academic frontiers and align its teacher education programmes with the National Universities Commission’s standards for quality, efficiency and effective programme delivery.