The Federal Government plans to upgrade the Federal Colleges of Forestry in Ibadan and Jos to degree-awarding institutes, the Minister of Environment, Malam Lawal Balarabe, disclosed on Thursday.
Balarabe, while speaking at the Federal College of Forestry in Ibadan during its 85th anniversary celebration, said the college had over the decades produced experts.
“These are experts who have contributed to the academic field and played significant roles in policy-making and environmental conservation across the nation,” the minister, who was represented by Dr Ibrahim Goni,the Conservator-General of National Park Services, said.
He added that government remained committed to environmental protection and sustainable development.
“We recognise the importance of education and research in achieving these goals. As such, we are investing in programmes that support forestry education and research initiatives.
“This is why plans are ongoing to upgrade the Federal College of Forestry Ibadan and Jos into degree-awarding institutes.
“Together, we can develop policies that promote sustainable practices while ensuring and securing the livelihood of communities which depend on forestry,” Balarabe said.
He further said the Federal College of Forestry in Ibadan had upheld its reputation as a centre of excellence.
“This is by providing students with the tools and knowledge needed to tackle the pressing environmental challenges,” the minister said.
In his remarks, the Deputy Govenor of Oyo State, Bayo Lawal, pledged the support of the state government to all federal establishments in the state.
Lawal said the Oyo State Government would continue to do everything humanly possible to ensure that the college continued to enjoy the cordial relationship of the host community.
Also speaking, Dr Zacharia Yaduma, the Director-General, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN), said the college was etablished in 1939 with the mandate to train middle-level manpower.
“This manpower is for the forestry and agriculture sub-sector of the economy,” he said.
Yaduma said the college had in over eight decades trained more than 10,000 students in forestry and agriculture-related courses.
“Now, some of them are occupying high-ranking positions in international organisations.
“The college has also recorded remarkable progress in terms of the academics, that is in the increased number of courses accredited by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
“Infrastructural development is another area where there has been remarkable progress,” the FRIN D-G said.
“There are also research outputs and dissemination of research breakthroughs to the end-users.”
He added that these achievements called for a celebration of the existence of the college.
Earlier, the College’s Provost, Dr Ibrahim Lawal who expressed happiness with the successes recorded by the college over the years, said adequate funding was one of the challenges facing it.
Lawal said the college needed the support of all well-meaning Nigerians to augment what came from the government.
“Today the college is launching the raising of funds for the building of a 1,000-capacity multipurpose hall which will no doubt add value to seminar, workshops, conferences as well as a hub for students’ activities development,” he said.
The Provost said the College was open to Public Private Partnerships (PPP) collaboration for the development of the required structures, lecture theatres, students’ hotels, laboratories, among others.
The event also witnessed the presentation of awards to different individuals who have contributed to the College’s development in particular and Nigeria in general.