History of Akwa Ibom State College of Education
Three years after the creation of Akwa Ibom State, the State Government, as part of its general efforts to develop the young state and specifically address educational needs, decided to establish a science-based institution to train the much needed middle-level manpower in science education. To actualize this desire, the state government in a budget broadcast by the then State Military Governor, Wing Commander Idongesit Okon Nkanga FSS, PSC (+), pronounced the establishment of the State College of Education to be sited at Afaha Nsit with a directive that it should be open for lectures in January, 1991.
On the 10th day of January 1991, the College of Education Afaha Nsit came into existence as the first tertiary institution established by the Government of Akwa Ibom State. The facilities of the defunct Teachers Training College, Afaha Nsit, were made available to the new College for its take off and subsequent development. Consistent efforts were made to renovate the premises to meet the desired standard of the College of Education and in January 1991 the College Education, Afaha Nsit opened for lectures with a population of 179 students and 352 staff. This followed the formal handing over of the existing facilities to the College authorities by the then Commissioner for Education, Mrs Cecilia J. Umana, on 10th January 1991. To ensure proper functioning of the college, and in line with existing tradition in higher institutions, a twelve member Governing Council was inaugurated on 14th, January 1991, with Professor Eno L. Inanga of the University of Ibadan as the Chairman. On 18th March 1991, the College conducted her first matriculation, and later in the year had the rare privilege of playing host to then President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, CFR, FSS, MNI, who was on an official visit to Akwa Ibom State.
