NTI gets approval to offer degrees via distance learning

The National Teachers’ Institute (NTI) has been authorized to offer Education degrees through distance learning, a significant milestone announced by its outgoing Director-General, Prof. Musa Garba-Maitafsir.

Garba-Maitafsir made this disclosure on Monday in Kaduna while handing over leadership to his successor, Prof. Sa’adiyya Sani-Daura, the first woman to head the institution.

Reflecting on his tenure, Garba-Maitafsir said he inherited an institute functioning as an administrative hub but transformed it into a fully academic-oriented organization.

“When I assumed office, NTI was burdened with a debt of about ₦1.2 billion. My administration managed to clear 95% of this debt by cutting unnecessary expenditures,” he stated.

He highlighted key achievements, including:

– Renovation of chalets at the NTI Conference Centre.
– Revamping the Institute’s Printing Press, enabling in-house production of materials.
– Establishing NTI as the best-performing agency under the Federal Ministry of Education during the last ministerial review.

Garba-Maitafsir expressed confidence in Sani-Daura’s ability to lead, pledging to offer guidance as needed. “The environment is fertile for her administration to thrive,” he added.

In her response, Sani-Daura promised to build on her predecessor’s accomplishments while tackling the institute’s challenges.

“My administration will uphold NTI’s mandate, promote teamwork, and ensure staff work diligently,” she said. She also expressed optimism that the institute’s challenges are surmountable.

In a symbolic gesture, Garba-Maitafsir toured ongoing NTI projects alongside the management team, officially handing them over to Sani-Daura.

“From the foundation laid, NTI will live up to its name as an academic institution. I came peacefully and left happily,” he concluded.

With its new leadership and expanded mandate, NTI is poised to strengthen its role in advancing teacher education in Nigeria.