The Forgotten College: How FCE Akoka Became a Symbol of Broken Governance

In years past, the Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka, stood tall as a respected institution for training teachers and technical experts in Nigeria. Nevertheless, that is no longer the case. What used to be a place of learning has become a symbol of everything wrong with Nigeria’s education system — poor leadership, government neglect, and endless politics.

For several months, the school has been without clear leadership. After the exit of the former provost, the college has been described by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Lagos chapter, as “running on autopilot.” Students complain that classrooms are empty, hostels are in bad condition, and management hardly pays attention to their welfare. Everyone is simply doing things their own way, with no direction from the top.

The trouble started when workers locked out the provost, Dr Wahab Azeez, insisting that his tenure had expired under a new law that limits provosts to a single five-year term. Nevertheless, Dr Azeez argued that his reappointment came before the new law took effect. Even after the Minister of Education confirmed that his reappointment was valid, the protest did not stop. It later turned violent — cars were destroyed, people were injured, and the police arrested over 30 people while trying to restore peace.

In July 2025, the Federal Ministry of Education set up a Special Visitation Panel to look into the crisis. The panel completed its findings in August, but the report has not been released. According to NANS Lagos Chairman, Abdul-Raheem Abdul-Quadri, the delay is worsening the situation. “The college has no provost, no management, and no progress,” he said, urging the Minister to act quickly.

Sadly, what is happening at FCE Akoka is not an isolated case. Across Nigeria, many tertiary institutions are embroiled in various crises, including poor management, leadership battles, and government interference. So, instead of focusing on education, research, and innovation, many schools are busy with political rivalry and power control.

Today, FCE Akoka stands as a sad example of how politics and neglect can destroy the foundation of learning. The college’s situation clearly conveys to stakeholders that Nigeria’s education sector needs more than promises. The sector needs honest leadership and a genuine commitment to fixing the rot in the system.