History of Imo State College of Education
The Imo state college of Education Ihitte-Uboma was established on 29th October, 2010 as Imo State College of Education (Technical) through the Imo State College of Education (Technical) law NO.11 of 2010, enacted by the Imo State House of Assembly which was also assented to, by the then Governor of Imo State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, when Hon. Chief Good luck Nanah Opiah was the speaker, Imo State House of Assembly.
Owelle Anayo Rochas Okorocha took over the governorship of Imo State in 2011. Then in 2014, the Principal Law Imo State College of Education (Technical) law NO.11 of 2010 was further amended through the enactment of the Imo State College of Education (Technical) amendment law NO.3 of 2014 by the Imo State House of Assembly with Rt. Hon. Chief Ben. Uwajumogu as the speaker, by deleting the word Technical from the Citation/title and anywhere it appears in the law, to read Imo State College of Education. Then on 13th February 2014, a true and correct printed copy of the bill was finally assented to, by the same Owelle Anayo Rochas Okorocha.
Immediately the final nod on the establishment of Imo State College of Education with location at Ihitte-Uboma was given by both the State House of Assembly and the then Governor Rochas Okorocha administration in 2014, the hope of Imo people became very high. Then on 3rd march 2015, Governor Rochas Okorocha appointed the pioneer management team for the College to include Dr. Christ Osuegbu as the Provost, Mr. Emma Nwosu as the Registrar, and Mr. Ejike Okehi as the Bursar. Then the Provost and his management team, with Dr. Clifford.O. Ugorji as a consultant in Education, expedited action in seeking for approval of the College from its regulatory body, National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) with take-off (Temporary) site at Madona Science Secondary School Ihitte-Uboma. The people of the host community, Ihitte-Uboma volitionally donated their large expands of land (for permanent site of the College) to accommodate all the departments in the school since Ihitte-Uboma is meant to be the seat of administration.
A Campus of the institution at Egbema in Ohaji/Egbema LGA was proposed in the course of seeking for the approval of the College from NCCE, but it was not actualized, even though some structures had been erected there by the government.
A resource Inspection team from the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), Abuja visited both the temporary and permanent sites of the proposed Imo State College of Education Ihitte-Uboma between 15th and 19th May, 2017. Then on 5th June, 2017, the management of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) at its 267th meeting granted Imo State College of Education Ihitte-Uboma, a provisional Approval to mount NCCE programmes, following the report of the visitation panel, under the auspices of Mr. Jonas Obasi, one of the Directors of (NCCE) who also hails from Ehime Mbano.
The Imo State College of Education Ihitte-Uboma was approved to commence academic activities in only three schools Viz: School of General Education, School of Arts and Social Sciences and School of Languages. Then School of Sciences which has seven departments was the brain child of Dr. Clifford O. Ugorji with a view to obtaining approval from NCCE thereafter. Dr. C. O. Ugorji is a consultant in education who worked with the pioneer management to secure approval for the College. As the Coordinator of academic programme, Dr. C. O. Ugorji developed and set up pre-NCE programme after the approval, which admitted the first 26 students that started the College who later graduated into the NCE programme after their pre-NCE.
The College Commenced admission into NCE regular programmes in 2017/2018 academic session. The College conducted her first interview, for recruitment of staff (Academic and Non-Academic) on November 27, 2017 and had her first matriculation of over 100 students on May 31, 2018, with 69 Academic Staff and 66 Non-Academic Staff.
From a modest beginning 3years ago, the Imo State College of Education Ihitte-Uboma, has been involved in a serious academic activity and it is on the verge of graduating its pioneer students. Its admission process has been smooth as it is now recognized by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). Currently, the college has over 300 students offering different courses in various departments. The pioneer Provost, Dr Christ Osuegbu was removed from office on December 13, 2019 and the incumbent Provost, Dr Bonn Asiegbu was appointed. The Management of the college has attracted both governmental and non-governmental agencies/organizations to help develop the school including TET-FUND, BANKS, MTN, TRCN and other well-meaning individuals in the society.
The college is pursuing vigorously the cardinal principle upon which it is founded which is to impart knowledge and learning to men and women of all races so as to produce quality teachers for the Basic Education Sub-Sector without any distinction on the ground of race, religious or political beliefs. If our staff and students are drawn from all parts of the world, then the mixture of international minds working in an atmosphere of academic freedom can produce a college true to its ideal and meanings.
