By Jako Keke, March 10, 2026.
The Provost of Taraba State College of Education, Zing, Professor Ejika Sambo, has described the approval granted by the National Universities Commission (NUC) for the institution to run Dual Mandate Degree Programmes as a dream come true.
Professor Sambo said the management of the college had worked tirelessly over the years to ensure the institution met the requirements for the programme, noting that the approval marks a significant milestone in the history of the college.
He expressed appreciation to the Taraba State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas, for his unwavering support towards the advancement of the institution, adding that the development has positioned the college on the global map in the promotion of quality education.
According to the provost, the college possesses the required manpower and infrastructure to immediately commence the programmes, revealing that the institution currently has over eighty doctorate degree holders and numerous master’s degree holders across various academic disciplines.
Professor Sambo who is also the Dan Lawan Zing further disclosed that the institution has concluded all necessary preparations ahead of the National Universities Commission’s resource verification visit scheduled to take place in the coming weeks, in line with the provisions of the Act establishing the Dual Mandate Education Policy.
He noted that Taraba State College of Education, Zing, has become the first state-owned college of education in the North-East region of Nigeria to secure approval to run the dual mandate programmes.
The approval was conveyed in a letter dated March 5, 2026, signed by the Director of Academic Planning of the National Universities Commission, Abubakar M. Girie, on behalf of the Executive Secretary, granting the institution permission to run twenty-one degree courses.
Reacting to the development, the Deputy Provost of the college, Dr. Tijanni Usman Karofi, said the approval would greatly enhance the reputation and academic integrity of the institution. He noted that the college has adequate facilities and academic resources to ensure the smooth implementation of the dual mandate policy.
Also speaking, the Registrar of the college, Mrs. Martha Usman Janar, expressed joy over the development, stating that the approval came at a crucial time when the institution was working towards expanding its academic frontiers.
Similarly, the Chief Librarian of the college, Mr. Ezekiel Angyu, affirmed that the institution’s library and information services are well-equipped with modern facilities, including books, academic journals and electronic resources required to support the approved degree programmes.
Chairman of the College of Education Academic Staff Union, Dr. Aliyu Mbiko, said the approval marks the end of years of advocacy and preparation by the academic community.
He recalled that the dual mandate policy was initiated in 2020 during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, and later received legislative backing when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assented to the bill allowing Colleges of Education to run degree programmes.
Dr. Mbiko also commended Governor Agbu Kefas for facilitating the domestication of the policy in Taraba State, thereby enabling the state-owned college to benefit from the initiative.
Other stakeholders of the institution, including the Bursar, Mr. Amos Luke; Director of Quality Assurance, Dr. Jessinta Okwonko; Director of Academic Planning, Dr. Uko Boniface; Engineer Hensan Titus; and Chairman of the Non-Academic Staff Union of the college, Comrade Samuel Ability Jatau, also expressed appreciation to the provost for his determination in driving the process.
They all assured that the institution is fully prepared to commence the programmes immediately after the National Universities Commission completes its resource verification visit expected within the next two weeks.
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