Abuja, Nigeria—UPF-Nigeria’s proposal for a Universal Peace College of Education in Nigeria has successfully passed the first step.
The National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) has called the idea worthy and relevant and has issued guidelines and procedures for the establishment of the college.
In a letter dated December 6, 2016, to the UPF-Nigeria secretary general, the commission expressed appreciation to UPF “for the desire to contribute to the development of teacher education in Nigeria through the proposal for the establishment of a Universal Peace College of Education in Nigeria.” The letter, signed by the acting director of academic programs for the executive secretary, listed the requirements and procedures that UPF needs to follow for the establishment of the college.
UPF is expected to acquire the land needed for the college’s site (about 25 hectares, or almost 62 acres), develop the master plan for the institution and then carry out the construction of buildings and other facilities. Other requirements are furnishing and equipping the needed facilities, appointment of principal officers of the college, a formal application to the NCCE for permission to mount college of education programs with a non-refundable fee of 5 million naira (US $16,000), among others.
Meanwhile, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Dr. Audu Shaban Nizazu III, Etsu Kwali in the Kwali Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory, has offered to secure land donated by the local government to UPF for the Peace College of Education, which is to be located in Abuja, the capital. He is an Ambassador for Peace appointed by UPF-Nigeria and has been very supportive of our programs and activities in Nigeria.
UPF-Nigeria has been working in partnership with the National Commission for Colleges of Education and the National Association of Women in Colleges of Education for the establishment and management of peace clubs in more than 50 government-owned colleges of education in Nigeria. UPF-Nigeria has designated almost 120 women educators as College Ambassadors for Peace to the various colleges of education, and their wisdom and connection have helped in facilitating this approval. A significant number of them are looking forward to offering their expertise toward ensuring the success of the proposed Universal Peace College of Education in Nigeria.
The letter from NCCE to UPF-Nigeria also has inspired some Ambassadors for Peace, who are offering to join the committee to search for the location of the college site as well as development of strategies to raise the needed resources for this laudable initiative, which will institutionalize the teachings of the UPF peace principles and programs for those students who are training to become teachers in Nigeria.
Colleges of education in Nigeria are established to train educators who will teach in primary and junior secondary schools. We are hopeful that through the establishment of the first Peace College of Education in Nigeria, UPF will quickly become a mainstream organization that will influence the national policy on education and contribute to the professional development of teachers to become peace educators.