TCTI-BIASE: A Headliner in Governor Ben Ayade’s achievements

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TI-BIASE: A Headliner in Governor Ben Ayade’s achievements By Kingsley Agim The idea of establishing the Teachers Continuous Training Institute (TCTI) in Biase Local Government of Cross River State, muted in 2018, accentuated Governor Ben Ayade's unhidden passion for the development of quality Education. Virtually all the institute's physical structures with accompanying Digital infrastructures and furnishings were in place by 2022.

The Institute's vision is to be a world class academic environment that will support and sustain the continuous re-training of Teachers who will champion the highest quality of teaching and learning in primary and secondary schools as well as lift them to highest performance in all competitive examinations, and create an academic atmosphere that will promote high quality teaching and learning required in the 21st century digital space. These efforts are aimed at leveraging teachers to meet the teaching needs of schools, attract high quality entrants into the teaching profession and produce learners that can come tops in all internal and external assessments.

FACILITIES The Institute is located at the undulating and serene environment, with gorgeous landscape and efficient security networking, TCTI-Biase boasts of state-of-the-arts facilities, notably: an imposing Administrative Block, 22 Lecture halls of 25 sitting capacity, each named after a West African country; 120 Ensuite rooms as residential accommodation for retraining participants; tastefully furnished academic board rooms with sit-out/relaxation terrain, Amphitheatre of 448 sitting capacity; Auditorium with 1000 sitting capacity with a Gallery, Changing rooms, offices and VIP lounge; Conveniences in all facilities; An international standard male and female boarding Demonstration Secondary School, with Fully equipped Chemistry, Biology, Physics, and Agricultural Science laboratories; a classy Cafeteria; Expansive packing lot; a Banking Hall; 3 boreholes with adequate overhead tanks; A Clinic; Asphalt lanes; Internal roads and well-lit solar powered street lights; Perimeter fencing; and Library, including E-learning and internet facilities.

CAPABLE LEADERSHIP The TCTI, though yet to be commissioned, has already hit the ground running with tremendous achievements under the leadership of the pioneer Director-General, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja. He was carefully appointed for the position by the visioner of the institute, the outgoing Governor of the State, Prof Ben Ayade. The Governor, with a futuristic idea of the Institute, went out for one of Nigeria’s best Education managers in Prof. Adedoja - a former Dean of Education at Bayero University, Kano , former Chairman of the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, Commissioner for Education in Oyo State, former Minister of Sports and Special Duties, former Pro-Chancellor of the Federal University in Dutse, Jigawa State. He is presently the Chairman, Governing Council of the Federal College of Education, Obudu, and an internationally acclaimed consultant in Education.

It is commonplace that once an organization's leadership is qualified, experienced, focused, visionary, vibrant, and with attributes of integrity and high ethical standard and morality, such organization is primed for success. It is therefore not surprising that the TCTI under the leadership of Prof. Adedoja at the helm of affairs, surrounded by dedicated management and staff, has achieved so much since September 2021, when the Institute became operational.

ACHIEVEMENTS SINCE INCEPTION Since the Institute commenced operations in September 2021, it has established its presence and demonstrated its corporate capacity by relating with relevant agencies in Cross River State such as the Ministry of Quality Education, the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), the Science, Technical and Vocational Education Board, the Secondary Schools Management Education Board, the State House of Assembly, the Ministry of ICT, and the non-formal sector.

At the national level, the TCTI has demonstrated its capacity through collaboration with the Ideas Project Office of the Federal Ministry of Education; the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), the National Teachers Institute (NTI), Kaduna, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), and the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), among others.

At the international level, the offices of the World Bank and UNICEF had commended the vision of Governor Ben Ayade in establishing this world class citadel of teaching and learning.

It is also worthy to note that TCTI is the first Nigerian public institution to be accredited by Certiport as Center for Digital Literacy. A presentation ceremony of the Certiport Licence was held at the Executive Chambers of the Cross River State led by the Gov Ben Ayade on on September 25, 2022.

International collaboration: The TCTI has reached an advanced stage in its contacts with several institutions and organizations world-wide for collaboration for sustainability of the Institute. The results are not far-fetched.

Capacity building training for pioneer principal officers of the institute was successfully held; as well as on the job training for staff.

The Institute has full operation of the boarding system at the TCTI Demonstration Secondary School (both junior and senior sections), with 21st century digital infrastructure in place, use of interactive boards in every classroom, thereby qualifying the school as one of Nigeria’s emerging smart schools. TCTI remains the first Nigerian Educational institution to conduct digital proficiency tests for various categories of workers on a large scale for one thousand participants from primary, secondary, vocational and technical education institutions, the public service sector and the non-formal sector. With this proof of capacity, the Institute is positioned to provide similar services to other organizations and institutions in Nigeria and other African countries.

TCTI is Nigeria’s first public institution to train participants on Digital literacy proficiency up to ic3 certification. The institute has also successfully organized capacity building workshops for 920 principals and vice principals of secondary schools in Cross River State.

It is the first Nigerian educational institution to establish mobile training center for retraining of teachers and for the training of Nigerian workforce on Digital Literacy for Emerging Skills in any part of the country, both rural and urban areas.

Furthermore, the institute has commenced mass production of Teaching and Learning/ Educational Technology materials. The two ICT laboratories in the institute with functional high breed computers, interactive boards, overhead projectors, writing boards and internet facilities is fully positioned for Nigeria’s Digital literacy competence skill training at all levels.

The E-library is already providing online and offline access to millions of books, journals and other educational materials that can be subscribed to by any individual or institution in any subject area or discipline across the world.

By the innovative idea of the Institute's leadership, one of the trainee guest house blocks is being upgraded to a Standard Hotel for the comfort of resource persons, and other guests.

With about five hundred thousand (500, 000) Nigerian teachers needing retraining to facilitate 21st century development skills, and the Federal Government’s national policy of attaining digital literacy for ten million Nigerian learners, youths and workers annually for the next ten years, TCTI BIASE, with the quality of its leadership and facilities in place, is fully positioned to capture Nigeria’s markets in these key development areas, nay the West African sub-region.

As several individuals and organizations are already keeping tabs with the Institute, via its bubbly website - www.tctibiase.com, TCTI-Biase is strategically placed to reposition teachers for the onerous task of educating our young ones.

The Ayade-led government must do everything it can to commission this cynosure of educational advancement before the expiration of its tenure.

As eloquent as Governor Ayade's strides are in industrialization, agriculture, infrastructure, etc, suffice it to say that the Teachers Continuous Training Institute, Biase, headlines the laudable achievements of the present administration, with education unequivocally the bedrock of any society.