Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas, on Saturday ordered the state-owned tertiary institutions to make the annual convocation of their graduates mandatory.

Mr Kefas issued the order at the combined convocation ceremony of the 1994 to 2023 graduates of the Taraba State College of Education Zing.

He condemned the idea of delaying convocation of graduands by institutions, adding that he would query any head of institutions that would henceforth delay convocation.

The governor said that his administration would develop the capacity of the institution by retraining and training of teachers in the state.

He vowed to deal with any official sabotaging his free and compulsory education policy.

He said, “I want to make it clear today that I can tolerate any unwholesome conduct anywhere but not in education. I congratulate you the graduands and I charge you to be good ambassadors of the institution where ever you go.’’

Earlier, the college Provost, Prof. Ejika Sambo, said that the college was convoking 19,700 graduates across various departments and courses.

Mr Sambo announced that the college which had 70 lecturers with doctorate degrees was running National Certificate in Education and degree programmes simultaneously.

He said that courses were duly accredited in the college by the relevant authorities.

Mr Sambo thanked the governor for his support in ensuring the accreditation of programmes in the college.

The provost gave the assurance that the college would maintain its capacity in training teachers.

The college was established in 1978 in the then Gongola State.

(NAN)