Senate passes bill establishing federal varsity in Ekiti

The Senate has passed a bill for the establishment of the Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences in lyin, Ekiti State.

The passage of the bill followed the consideration and adoption of the report of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund at the plenary in Abuja on Tuesday, November 28, 2023.

The report was presented by Senator Mohammed Muntari (APC-Katsina).

Muntari, in his lead debate, said the Senate had at plenary on October 26 debated on the general principles of the bill for an act to provide for the establishment of the university.

He said the bill was sponsored by Senator Bamidele Opeyemi (APC- Ekiti).

He said the bill sought to provide a legislative framework to support the establishment of the university.

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Muntari said the university was designed to develop and offer academic and professional programmes leading to the award of diplomas, first degrees, postgraduate research, and higher degrees.

According to him, the degrees to be awarded lay emphasis on environmental and technological skills and allied professional disciplines.

This, he said, was aimed at producing socially mature persons with the capacity to improve on the disciplines and develop new ones.

Muntari said the university would act as an agent and catalyst for national development through technological innovation for effective and economic utilisation of the nation’s economic and human resources.

The senator stated that the committee engaged with relevant stakeholders, who expressed their views on the merits and demerits of the bill for an act to establish the university in Ekiti State.

He said their views were in consonance with the legislative agenda of the 10th Senate.

Muntari noted that the stakeholders and all the participants unanimously agreed on the intendiment of the bill.

He said the stakeholders believed that the establishment of the proposed university would bring socio-economic growth through the development of the region and would encourage prospective youths to take advantage of the proximity of the institution to get educated.

Muntari said it was the views of stakeholders that the passage of the bill would no doubt give the people of the region a sense of belonging as it would be seen as one of the dividends of democracy.

The Star