School of Arts and Social Sciences

The Niger State of College of Education was established as an Advanced Teachers’ College by the defunct North Western State government when there was need to establish an additional Advanced Teachers’ College in order to meet the soaring teachers’ needs in the state.

In 1975, the first batch of students admitted into the college reported in November, 1975 (for 1975/76 session). In 1983, the College was upgraded to the status of College of Education by the defunct civilian government in the second republic through the Niger State Edict NSLN Number 3. With this development, the status and nomenclature of the principal of the college was changed to Provost” and the Administrative Secretary to the Registrar.

By the 1979/80 Academic session many more departments had been established, therefore for effective and easy co-ordination, the college authority deemed it necessary to decentralize academic management into four, schools or divisions. The activities of the four schools were co-ordinated by the Divisional Head. The chain of structural responsibility started from the student, through the staff and academic department.

The following subject combinations were available at NCE level in School of Arts and Social Sciences.

1. History/Geography
2. History/CRS
3. History/ISS
4. History/Eng
5. History/History
6. Fine Arts (double major)
7. Social Studies/English

The Departments were later grouped into Academic divisions with Divisional Head. There were four (4) divisions in 1982; and by 1983, Vocational and Technical Education were added as the fifth division. The sixth division that came up was the preliminary science which was not run at the NCE programme.

As a result of the upgrade of the College status to a degree awarding institution, there was a change in nomenclature at the beginning of the 1984/85 academic session from Divisional Heads to the status of Deans and Directors.

The following were the available divisions:

1. Division of Sciences: It was made up of Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics departments.
2. Arts and Social Sciences Division: This division Incorporated history, geography, social studies, fine arts, Islamic studies and Christian religious studies dept.
3. Language Division: It was made up of English, Hausa, – French and Arabic departments.
4. Education Division: It comprised, of Primary Education Studies and Business Education Departments.

In addition, during the 1982/83 academic session, the Technical and Vocational Education division was created in anticipation of the 6-3-3-4 education system. This comprised of Business

Education, Home Economics and Agricultural Sciences departments. The Physical and Health Education department was placed under Education Division.

By 1985, the (5) five division (new schools) and their compositions as mentioned above remain the same. The change in the nomenclature from divisions to schools came into being when the National Commission for College of Education (NCCE) formally created the schools

Since the creation of School of Art and Social Sciences, fourteen (14) Deans have occupied this prestigious office to date, as indicated below

Deans of School of Arts and Social Sciences

1. Sheikh Ahmad Abdullahi 1798 – 1980
2. Jimoh Agoola 1981 – 1983
3. Nuhu Galadima 1984 – 1990
4. George E. Uwaiya 1991 – 1994
5. Jonah Ndayagi Yisa 1995 – 1998
6. Godwin Ahituabe 1998 – 2002
7. Diamond Ogidi 2002 – 2004
8. Malam Abdulrazaq Olarinde 2004 – 2006
9. Malam Yahaya Suleiman 2006 – 2010
10. Malam Salahu M. Lawal 2010 – 2010
11. Elder Jonah Ndayagi Yisa 2010 – 2012
12. Malam Yahaya Suleiman 2012 – 2016
13. (Mrs) Hannatu K. Ali 2016 – 2017
14. Sakoma Joash Kaura 2017 – 2018
15. Abubakar Kawu Hassan 2018 – Date