Gov. Agbu Kefas of Taraba has said that his administration had begun the restructuring of the State College of Health and Technology Takum to a polytechnic to enable it qualify for Tertiary Education Trust Funds (TETFUND) intervention.
Kefas made the declaration on Saturday at the maiden Combined Convocation of graduates from 1995 to 2025 held in Takum local government area of the state.
Represented by Dr Mike Dio, the state Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Kefas said that plans were under way to amend some of the laws establishing the college to be able to access TETFUND
He explained that as a monotechnic, the college was currently ineligible for the intervention under existing regulations, assuring that legal and institutional reforms were underway to change it from a monotechnic to a polytechnic.
The governor recalled that the Taraba College of Agriculture, Jalingo had undergone reform process from a monotechnic to a polytechnic and was thus qualified to access the fund.
He also reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening tertiary education through sustained investments in infrastructure, programme’s accreditation, staff development and expanded access to higher education.
Kefas described the convocation as a historic milestone, noting that it marked the fulfilment of a long-awaited aspiration for the institution and its alumni.
While congratulating the management, staff, parents and graduating students of the college, Kefas urged them to uphold integrity, humility and professionalism in their careers.
“Our administration placed education at the centre of our development agenda because no society can build a resilient healthcare system, grow its economy or secure its future without investing in education,” the governor said.
Kefas highlighted key interventions by his administration, including a 50 per cent reduction in tuition fees across state-owned tertiary institutions, funding for programme accreditation, improved infrastructure, recruitment of additional personnel, enhanced institutional funding and the introduction of new academic programmes.
He said the interventions were part of a broader strategy to reposition tertiary education in the state and to produce graduates capable of competing nationally and internationally.
Earlier, Dr Wama Binga, the Provost of the College said the successes recorded by the institution were the product of collective efforts by management, staff and development partners.
Binga described the event as a landmark in the history of the institution, noting that it was the first convocation since the college was established more than three decades ago.
She praised Gov. Kefas for his administration’s investment in education, saying government interventions had transformed the college’s physical infrastructure, strengthened academic programmes and restored confidence in the institution.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the college, which was established in 1993 had graduated over 30 sets without convocation. (NAN)
