The Provost of the Federal College of Education (Technical) Umunze, Anambra State, Prof Theresa Obumnene Okoli, has stressed the need to enhance the competence of teaching staff in tertiary institutions through ICT knowledge. She stated this recently, while distributing new HP laptops to Chief Lecturers and Principal Lecturers of the institution to aid their research and academic work.
The distribution of the laptops was part of the Revitalization Programme, a negotiated agreement between the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) and the Federal Government on improving the working condition of teaching staff in Colleges of Education. The distribution exercise was held at the Council Chambers, Main Campus, and attended by teaching staff of the College.
Prof Okoli said the revitalization programme was a product of fruitful negotiation by Unions with the federal government to improve their welfare and working conditions. She explained that the non-teaching staff in the College also benefitted from the exercise, which was tailored to empower their members for higher productivity.
The Provost said the College complied strictly with the agreement reached with the Unions during the negotiation stage. According to her, the sharing of the laptops started with COEASU executives, followed by Chief Lectures and later principal lecturers to underscore the need for seniority in service.
She gave the assurance that subsequent batches would include younger lecturers of the College and expressed optimism that no staff would be left behind. She urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the laptops as a work tool in their respective offices and increase their productivity for the interest of their growth, professional development and overall growth of the College.
Prof Okoli commended the federal government for the revitalization programme, and expressed faith that it would retool the benefitting staff for better performance in their duty posts. She stressed the need for motivation to workers, describing such packages as incentive for productivity. She harped on the importance of requisite ICT knowledge among staff of the College, and expressed optimism that the laptops would encourage e-learning and boost research work among teaching staff.
While presenting the laptops to his colleagues, the COEASU National Vice President, Research & Documentation/ South East Zonal Coordinator, Comrade Dr Churchill Okonkwo lauded the Union and Federal Government for the successful implementation of the programme. He also extolled the College Management for distributing the laptops and urged his colleagues to ensure efficient use of the work tool. He urged teaching staff to take their research seriously and work selflessly for the growth of the College.
Also speaking, the COEASU Chairman, FCET Umunze Chapter, Comrade Dr Okeke Sunday congratulated the beneficiaries. He equally commended the Provost for the hitch-free exercise, noting that it brought immense joy among the staff. He gave the assurance that the lecturers would utilise the laptops efficiently in discharging their duties in the College.
The exercise was witnessed by the Deputy Provost elect, Dr T A.K Nzeribe, the Registrar, Dr (Mrs) B.C Nkah, the Bursar, Comrade Ethelbert Echedo, the Librarian, Dr Samson Agada, and the Director, Academic Planning and Statistics (DAP), Dr Chike Obienyem.
