Benue College Of Education “Crumbling” After 49 Years, Provost Begs Gov Alia For Urgent Intervention
Iorfa Akpen
The Provost of College of Education, Katsina-Ala, Dr Tyodoo Iyue, says the 49-year-old institution is falling apart and needs immediate rescue from the Benue State Government.
Speaking with journalists in Makurdi to mark one year in office, Dr Iyue described the college as battling decaying buildings, staff shortages, poor funding and insecurity, despite progress recorded since July 2025.
He told members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Benue Council, that most of the school structures were built in 1976 and are now dilapidated. The college also lacks a proper administrative block, and the road to its second campus is in bad shape.
Key challenges listed:
– Staffing: Last recruitment was in 2021. Retirements and deaths have left major gaps in academic and non-academic departments.
– Funding: Heavy tax on Internally Generated Revenue is strangling operations.
– Security: Persistent theft of school property.
– Operations: No official vehicles for principal officers, delayed confirmation for long-serving support staff.
– Labour: Ongoing strike by ASUTIBS, the Benue tertiary institutions’ academic staff union.
Dr Iyue said enrolment has also dropped because students now prefer degree programmes to NCE. To address this, he appealed to Governor Hyacinth Alia to assent to the Dual Mandate Bill passed by the State House of Assembly. The law would allow the college to run both NCE and degree courses.
“The Dual Mandate initiative will reposition the college, boost enrolment and restore its competitiveness,” he said.
One-year gains
Despite the problems, the provost highlighted several achievements:
– Infrastructure: ECCE Centre built through 2025 TETFund intervention. Entrepreneurship centre established for skills acquisition.
– Staff: Promotions processed and letters issued in October 2025.
. Student support: NELFUND beneficiaries rose from about 600 to 1,340. That includes 1,260 degree students and 80 NCE students.
– Campus life: Alumni Association reactivated and peace restored on campus.
– Policy: Dual Mandate Law domesticated with College of Education, Oju, awaiting governor’s assent.
Dr Iyue also appealed for government support to hold a convocation. The last one was in the 2012/2013 session.
NUJ Benue Chairman, Comrade Bemdoo Ugber, praised the administration for “purposeful leadership” in one year. He said the union’s visit was to assess performance and push for support from government, alumni and partners to restore the college’s reputation as a leading teacher-training institution.
After the briefing, Dr Iyue led journalists on a tour of the campus to show both the deteriorating facilities and new projects.
Established in 1976, College of Education Katsina-Ala has produced thousands of teachers but has struggled with infrastructure decay and falling enrolment in recent years.
