The tenure of Dr Ignatius Ezoem as the 4th substantive Provost of the Federal College of Education (Technical) Asaba, came to an eventful end on Friday, April 26, 2019, exactly after eight years of being on the saddle.
Dr Ezoem was appointed Provost in the first instance on April 26, 2011, and had his tenure renewed in 2015 by President Muhammadu Buhari.
In a valedictory speech while handing over to his successor and first female Provost of the college, Dr Josephine Anene-Okeakwa, Dr Ezoem said the college under his watch moved to the next level in all ramifications, citing infrastructural development, capacity building and staff welfare, cordial relationship with the management, staff and students, as well as the host community Asaba.
He said his administration also enjoyed the support of the Governing Council of the institution, led by Honourable Funsho Ibrahim and remained in the good books of the supervising authorities, including the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Commission for Colleges of Education.
Dr Ezoem said he was leaving as Provost a happy man having used his mandate to add sustantial value to a system that was in shambles when he assumed duty eight years ago.
He thanked the state government for providing the premises used as take off ground for the college, and paid tribute to the Asaba community, especially the Asagba-in-Council, for the peaceful environment for the institution to grow.
The former Provost told his successor to be prepared for the heat in the seat and advised her to be firm and resolute in her decisions so long as they were stakeholders friendly.
In her acceptance speech after receiving the instruments of office, including the keys to the Provost’s official car, the school’s mace for matriculation and convocation ceremonies, books on income and expenditure for the past eight years among others, Dr Josephine Anene-Okeakwa attributed her appointment to the grace of God and the unwavering character of the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, the chairman Governing Council of the college, Honourable Funsho Ibrahim and the outgone Provost, Dr Ignatius Ezoem.
Dr Okeakwa, who admitted that she learnt a lot from her former boss and enjoyed working with him as Deputy Provost, promised equal opportunity for every member of staff, even as she warned that indiscipline and truancy would not be condoned.
She advised the students of the institution to shun acts that could lead them into confrontation with the school authority, assuring them of a conducive environment for their academic activities.
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