SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY, THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF PLATEAU STATE AND VISITOR TO THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION GINDIRI, RT HON. (DR) SIMON BAKO LALONG AT THE 28TH – 33RD COMBINED CONVOCATION CEREMONY HELD AT GINDIRI

SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY, THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF PLATEAU STATE AND VISITOR TO THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION GINDIRI, RT. HON. (DR) SIMON BAKO LALONG AT THE 28TH – 33RD COMBINED CONVOCATION CEREMONY HELD AT THE PERMANENT CAMPUS, ON THE 13TH MARCH 2020.

PROTOCOLS

1. It is a great delight to be present at this memorable occasion, which is the 28th to 33rd combined convocation ceremony of this great institution.
2. As visitor to this College, I consider this convocation ceremony very significant and long overdue, because many graduands who successfully completed their studies some years ago have been anxiously looking forward to this day.
3. Now that the day is finally here, I congratulate you all and urge you to relish the moment, which validates the long hours of learning and research you invested. However, I hope that subsequent convocations will not be delayed again.
4. From the number of graduands being awarded certificates today, it is clear that a lot of investment has gone into preparing them for the task of transferring knowledge to other students, particularly at early learning stages.
5. The College of Education Gindiri is one Institution that our Rescue Administration considers very crucial. This is because it is saddled with the huge task of training teachers who are to shape and mould the minds of our children.
6. This therefore means that if they fail to get the right quality of education, then they may not only pose serious danger to the younger generation, but eventually put the whole society in jeopardy by transferring half-knowledge and corrupted ideas.
7. We are all witnesses to the high proliferation of schools, particularly private ones in our country today. Sadly, the number of qualified teachers is not commensurate to the growing number schools, hence the engagement of quack teachers to the detriment of the society.
8. That is why I am excited that we are graduating many trained teachers here today and releasing them into the teaching profession to take over from those are not sufficiently qualified to be in the classroom as Teachers.
9. Therefore, as ambassadors of this great College, you should not see this occasion as a mere certification ritual. The future of our education in Plateau State and Nigeria as a whole depends on you. You must not fail to live up to the expectations of Nigerians.
10. As you go into the teaching profession, you must remember that the moral and academic standards instilled in you are virtues you should exhibit at all times. After all, the award of certificates to you by the College is because you have been found worthy in character and in learning.
11. You should therefore go out there determined to make a difference in the teaching profession by distinguishing yourselves in your various fields of calling. Let me admonish you that as you graduate and leave the four corners of this institution, excellence, self-discipline and dedication must be your watchword at all times.
12. You should also not see the certificates you are receiving today as the end of learning. Rather, consider this as the stepping-stone for you to seek further knowledge by upgrading your qualifications in order to remain relevant in the profession, and indeed a fast changing society.
13. Our Rescue Administration has continued to provide training opportunities for teachers at all levels and also granted study leave and grants for teachers to undertake further studies in various institutions.
14. Additionally, we are rehabilitating decayed school infrastructure that we inherited as well as constructing model schools with international standards under our Legacy Projects. This is to ensure that both the students and teachers operate under a conducive environment.
15. I have noted the challenges enumerated by the Acting Provost about issues relating to infrastructure, security, funding among others. Government will look into the demands and address them within available resources and in the context of our resolve to complete all abandoned projects we inherited.
16. Now that the College has been granted permission to begin Degree programmes, the imperative for more infrastructure is eminent and we shall do our best to improve the facilities for both students and lecturers.
17. While Government extends this gesture to the College, it is also expected that the Management of the School will think of other sources of generating revenue using various windows such as entrepreneurship and consultancy.
18. Your capacity to pursue ground-breaking research and other needful community services will also earn you grants from industries, donor agencies and other international organisations. These will go a long way in closing the gap because government cannot do everything.
19. On security, we shall make the necessary contact with the Police and relevant security agencies to facilitate the citing of a Police Outpost close to the College premises to help in curbing the incidences of crime in and around the school campus.
20. Similarly, Government frowns at the reports of encroachment into land belonging to the College by land grabbers. I therefore direct the Commissioner for Higher Education to immediately liaise with the Commissioner for Lands and Management of the College to address the situation.
21. While that is going on, government will ensure the completion of the fencing of the College to deter further encroachment. We do not want the situation with the encroachment of land belonging to the University of Jos to repeat itself here.
22. Let me warn all land grabbers to desist from such acts because Government will not fold its arms and watch lawlessness being perpetrated. The State Executive Council has already forwarded a bill to the House of Assembly against land grabbing, and once it is passed into law, offenders will be prosecuted and jailed.
23. To the students who are still in the school, it is important for you to concentrate on your studies and shun acts of cultism, drug abuse, examination malpractice, riots and unnecessary agitations. You have to maintain peace and follow proper channels to ventilate any grievances you may have.
24. I congratulate all the awardees from our Late father Chief Dr. Solomon Daushep Lar; The late Sum Pyem, Mato Dakat; Rt. Hon. Idris Maje, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives; Mr. John Maigari, Pioneer indigenous Provost of the College; and Mrs. Rose Adamu, Educationist and School Proprietress. They have done a lot to our State and we thank them.
25. Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, a hundred miles journey starts with a giant step. Given the historical evolution of the College of Education, Gindiri, I pay special tributes to all past Visitors, Provosts, Management, Academic and Administrative Staff and indeed the host community for their significant contributions in the growth and development of this great institution.
26. Finally, I sincerely appreciate the Acting Provost MSGR. Rev Prof. Cletus Tanimu Gotan, a clergy and seasoned administrator who accepted the challenge to work towards rebuilding the College and putting it on a new trajectory of hope.
27. Thank you for your attention.

Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Simon Bako Lalong
Executive Governor of Plateau State &
Chairman, Northern Governors Forum
13th March 2020.