The Federal College of Education, Abeokuta was established in 1976 as the Federal Advanced Teachers College, in addition to three other similar Colleges that were previously in existence at Okene, Pankshins and Yola. It is the first and the oldest Tertiary institution in Ogun State. The College started at the then Abeokuta Grammar School, Isale-Igbein right in the centre of Abeokuta, capital of Ogun State.
Abeokuta, the location of the College, is a historic Yoruba Town founded by the Egbas in 1830. The town’s geographical location makes it easily accessible. The nation’s seaport and industrial centre, Lagos, is 104 kilometers to the South, while Ibadan the largest city in the Country is 77 kilometers to the North.
The College provides three-year full-time and five-year sandwich courses respectively leading to the award of the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE). The foundation day of the college is January 27, 1976; the day the first set of eighty-six (86) Students were registered after about four months of preparatory activities and assembling staff and equipment on site. In 1982, the then President-in-Council approved the autonomy of the College along with others under the name ‘Federal College of Education’. The legal instrument for this autonomy was affected through Decree 4 (now Act) of March 14, 1986 and the Federal Colleges of Education (Amendment) Decree 6 of January 1, 1993.
The College moved to its permanent site in 1983 and presently occupies a land area of 632.95 hectares along the Abeokuta-Ibadan Road at Osiele, which the Federal Government vested to it vide Gazette No. 4164 of 25 August, 1977.
Alhaji Gani A. Bello was the founding principal of the College and successfully steered the ship of the College for fifteen years (January 1976-1991). This was followed by a brief period of interregnum during which the then Deputy Provost (Chief O.O. Abatan) held forte as the Acting College Provost before the assumption of office of Professor E. O. A Ajayi (Nov., 1991 31 Oct., 1999) as the second Provost of the College. Professor Ajayi advanced to frontiers of the College and entrenched the academic ethos among the College staff.
Dr. J. O. Akinmoywa was the third Provost of the College (1999-2003).
The E. O FIilani was the fourth Provost of the College (2004-2012). The Admission Office in the Registry Department co-ordinates all matters relating to the admission and registration of Fresh Students once JAMB results are released. The Admission Office is responsible for checking of credentials to identify prospective student that are qualified for registration as bonafide students.
The following stages must be followed strictly by fresh students for their Registration in the College;
Stage I: Candidate’s first point of contact with the college is the Admission Office. The candidate’s credential would be checked vis-Ã -vis the course requirement of each candidate to determine their suitability for the course. Candidates are to present originals of their credentials for verification and submit a photocopy of each of the credentials which qualify them for admission for retention by the Admission Office.
Candidates are then given Registration package which contains the following:
(a)Course Registration Form
(b)Student Personal Data Form
(c)Student Medical Examination Form
Students are to complete their sections of these forms and then take them to appropriate designated officers for cross-checking.
Stage II: Students are to proceed to the Bursary and pay school fees.
Stage III: Students are to proceed to ICT Centre for online Registration.
Stage IV: Students are to proceed to their respective Schools with their letters of provisional admission for further verification and authentication of their eligibility for registration of course. Thereafter, eligible Students should be given the appropriate forms which must be duly completed by the students and cross-checked by the School Officer who will then endorse the form after cross-checking.
Stage V: Eligible Student shall proceed to the Students Affairs Officers for allocation into Hostels and other formalities.
Stage VI: After complying with the five stages above the students will come back to the Admission Office and submit a copy of the duly completed and authenticated verification form.
COLLEGE VISION AND PHILOSOPHY
The vision and philosophy of the College is to produce professionally trained teachers who will stand the test of time in their areas of specialization and be responsive to societal needs in the delivery and pursuit of educational excellence.
MISSION OF THE COLLEGE
The mission of the College is to offer all round total quality teaching and research in a conducive learning friendly environment. In line with the provision of the act establishing it, the college is primarily establish to provide full-time courses of teaching, instruction, and training in technology, applied science, commerce, arts, social sciences, humanities and management and to carry out research in the development and adaptation of techniques.