3/15/99
ATHENS, Ohio -- The Federal College of Education, Kano, Nigeria, honored former Ohio University Education Professor Milton Ploghoft with the Fellowship Award and named the campus auditorium after him in a 36th year anniv ersary celebration in Kano Feb. 22 - 25.
The celebration honored Ploghoft's service as the first director of a small teacher training program founded by the United StatesAgency for International Aid (USAID), Nigeria and Ohio University in 1963. Federal College emerged from the training program and has been a success as an institution since its beginning.
The program began in 1963 with 38 students. Classes were held in a mud and brick structure, with one toilet and no running water . The program remained rooted in the commitment to cultivate a sturdy program despite nationwide political issues with the Nigerian military's rule and regime.
Ploghoft and Federal College Director Albert Ogunsola of Nigeria shared an office in the building where they collaborated daily. "We kept absolutely no secrets from each other," Ploghoft said. "We had one table where we sat facing each other and one phone -- we listened to each other's conversations so we couldn't keep secrets. It made much more sense for the two of us to be in one office than far from each other -- collaboration was much easier."
Since Ohio University faculty members left the project in 1974, the college has grown significantly. Today, there are 6,000 students, new administration buildings, a three-story library, a new science building, a college publication, dormitories and a language lab.
"The college is an amazing example of success, especially in a third world country," Ploghoft said. "It is a story of survival and persistence against political problems and a testimony to the people of Ohio University who went over there to help."