Dr. Ajayi Iyela, Provost, FCE, Okene, Kogi State

Profile of Dr. Ajayi Iyela

Dr. Ajayi Iyela was appointed by the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria October 2009 as the Provost of Federal College of Education, Okene, Kogi State.

Born in 1960 at Ogori-Magongo Local Government Area of Kogi State, Dr. Ajayi Iyela was a Chief Lecturer with the Fedral College of Education, Katsina in Katsina State until his appointment. He had served as both Deputy Provost between 2003 and 2007 and as Acting Provost in year 2006 of Federal College of Education, Katsina.

Dr. Ajayi Iyela attended the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, where he obtained his B.A (Combined Honours) in History/Political Science in 1981 and M.A. (History) in 1987. He had his Ph.D. in Economic History from University of Jos, Plateau State in 1998.

As an educationist par excellence; a seasoned and conscientious teacher and a researcher, Dr. Ajayi has to his credit over 70 publications, including published books, dissertations and various chapters in books, articles in international journals and has also several seminars, conferences and workshops.

Dr. Iyela had served in various administrative capacities in Federal College of Education, Katsina as Head, History Department; Head, General Studies Department; Coordinator, Pre-NCE Programme; Head, Social studies Department; Dean, School of Arts and Social Sciences, and member of over forty (40) Committees, out of which he was Chairman to twenty four (24) of them between 1989 and 2009. He was also an editor to two prominent College Journals.

The commitment to service of Dr. Ajayi Iyela went beyond the bounds of Federal College of Education, katsina, to several national assignments involving Polytechnics and Colleges of Education Matriculation Examinations; Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB); Senior Secondary School Certificate examination (WAEC and NECO); National Commissions for Colleges of Education; Katsina State Teachers’ Registration Council, among others. He also served as external moderator, assessor and examiner in various capacities.

This gentle and humble achiever belongs to several professional academic associations among which are National Association for Research Development; Promotion of Academic Excellence in Tertiary Institutions of Nigeria; Social Studies Association of Nigeria; Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria, and the Nigerian institute of Management to list a few.

His track record speaks volume and easily explains reasons behind several awards, honours and special recognitions he earned in the course of his career, especially from his employers, staff and students as well as the professional bodies he belongs.

TESTIMONIAL:

In the eyes of the public:

Iyela Ajayi: Building Tomorrow’s Leaders

Permit me a space in your revered medium to express and commend Dr. Ajayi Iyela, the Provost of Federal College of Education, Okene, for his most humble self and for the good work he is doing since taking over the mantle of leadership of this historic College of Education, Okene, 365 days ago.

His peculiar character of coming down as low as possible to appreciate the challenges facing the less privileged is unprecedented. This makes him stand out from those who isolate themselves from the people because of the position they hold.

Coupled with this, he has made integrity and accountability his watchword, which qualifies him among a very few as having taken the footsteps of some of the founding fathers of our nation like Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe, Sir ahmadu Bello, the sardauna of sokoto and host of others.

As Sarki Salama of Ebira land and one of the Dauda of Ebira land, I listened to comments within and outside your institution and it gladden my heart that you have not disappointed your mentor and your country home, where education is their industry from time immemorial. I have no doubt in my mind that by the time he would have completed his tenure, the legacy he will be leaving behind may not only be unqualified and unparallel, but the difficult to match in the near future.

Since his appointment to preside over the affairs of the Federal College of Education, Okene, even the greatest critic of the institution will agree that there has been tremendous change in the affairs of the institution in terms of peaceful coexistence, unity of purpose and development of the institution and rededication of both staff and students.

The institution has been upgraded to a degree awarding institution in his time; this was aided with the creation of new departments for which Directors were appointed. He has also appointed Special advisers to guide him in the day-to-day running of the institution; he has provided clean water to the institution; he has also commenced the fencing of the institution, which has been abandoned for long and so many more projects.

Adjudging from the various comments I have been opportune to listen to, I think I will be justified to say that he has so far lived up to expectations of not only members of the institution, but members of the immediate community as well as Ebira land in general.

As the head of an academic institution of this status, the role of impacting knowledge to your younger generations is the starting point of building a nation and leaders of tomorrow. In view of this, we have seen your total commitment, devotion, zeal and efforts to raise the standard of learning in the institution in particular and our immediate environment in general.

I therefore, on behalf of my entire family, congratulate you on your one year in office and commend your efforts in uplifting the standard of the Federal College of Education, Okene, Kogi State.

(This piece was as published in the Leadership newspaper and contributed by Dauda, Abdulkadir Atta, Abuja, FCT.)