Prince Oyinlola, Board Chairman, flanked by Provost and Registrar
The Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri has had a storied and meteoric history, lightening up the educational firmament while successfully metamorphosing through several phases. It started out as an Advanced Teachers’ Training College owned by the Eastern Region Government. Later it came under the East Central State Government where it became a College of Education in 1973 and renamed Alvan Ikoku College of Education via a State Edict. The Imo State Government owned the College which was located right in the heart of the State capital, Owerri, and had started in the historic Old Shell Camp grounds until 2007, when the Federal Government took over the running of the College.
Since the Federal Takeover of the College, Alvan Ikoku has been experiencing a renaissance. The so called ‘Federal Might’ is no myth as the increased financial muscle is now very evident in infrastructure, staff welfare and emoluments. The improved fiscal and manpower resources now available in the College has positively rubbed off on the academic sphere with teaching and learning being conducted in an environment that is striving towards attaining global best practices.
The Federal Government takeover of Alvan Ikoku is a testament to the role of the College in fostering educational development in Nigeria. Initially established to produce teachers for the intermediate level (Primary and Junior Secondary), the College also produced teachers with Bachelors degree (in affiliation with the University of Nigeria, Nsukka). Its focus on “training the trainers” thus gave Alvan the unique place of affecting, directly or indirectly, nearly everybody who passed through a school in the South-East these past fifty years. So when the Federal Government, in 2007, acquired the College from the Imo State Government, education watchers and stake-holders agreed it was a step in the right direction.
Under the Federal Government tutelage the College has grown in leaps and bounds. Accorded the title of ‘primus interpares’ in the 1960s, the College has regained its past glory and is fast adding more feathers to its cap. New programmes have commenced alongside new buildings and personnel. The College now has a new School of General Studies, runs a Professional Diploma in Education, set-up a Department of Theatre Arts and just recently established a Department of Special Education with the mandate to become a centre of excellence for special education studies in the near future. Previously a back-up choice in University Matriculation Examinations, the College is now the defacto first choice of many candidates as students ‘rush’ to avail themselves the opportunity of attending a Federal Government run – first generation – institution with a rich history and culture of excellence dating half a century.
The progress evident in the College since the Federal takeover is also down to the Presidency making wise choices with the leadership of the College. The first Governing Board – in the Federal dispensation – made strident and marked impact in the College. Today, we welcome a new Governing Board led by the Chairman, Prince Ajibola Oyinlola (a scion of the famous Oyinlola royal family) that will steer the ship of the College, starting from this Jubilee year, and chart the course as we sail into a golden era for Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri.
Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education Owerri 
This is a good development if only the college community can minimize the level of sycophancy and face the business of educating the educators and allow the council to do their bit within the ambits of the law.