Ejika Sambo, provost of Taraba College of Education, Zing, has said that the college would commence its degree programme for the 2026/2027 academic session.

Mr Sambo made the declaration on Friday at the 17th Convocation Lecture in Zing Local Government Area of the state.

He said that the college was among the first colleges of education to secure dual mandates, adding that it would henceforth run both the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) and degree programmes concurrently.

The provost urged parents to prioritise the institution, assuring them of uninterrupted academic activities.

Mr Sambo advised students and educators to embrace Artificial Intelligence while preserving cultural values and traditional knowledge.

He stressed that although AI had become a major tool for accessing information and improving learning, it could not replace human experiences and cultural practices.

The provost said the central message of the lecture was the need for people to become knowledgeable about AI so as not to be left behind in the rapidly changing digital world.

“AI has made it possible for people to get information easily, but we must also be careful because it can encourage laziness when people depend on it excessively.

“There are things that AI cannot teach us, especially aspects of our culture that require practical experience,” he said.

He commended Governor Agbu Kefas for prioritising education and supporting the institution’s development, saying the governor’s approval and assistance made the successful hosting of the convocation possible.

In his remarks, Zik Sunday, chairman of the Governing Council of the college, described the institution as the oldest in the former Gongola State, having been established in 1977.

Mr Sunday, who is a pioneer lecturer at the college, said the institution had grown from an Advanced Teachers College into a recognised College of Education with expanding academic programmes.

He praised Mr Kefas for his support in improving the standard of education in the state, describing the approval of the Dual Mandate Programme as a major achievement.

He urged lecturers to remain committed to academic excellence and continue improving their qualifications, revealing that more than 60 lecturers at the institution currently hold PhDs, while others are undergoing doctoral studies.

The convocation is for the 2023/2024 and 2025/2026 sets of graduates.