The Senate has passed for second reading a Bill for an Act to establish the Federal University of Education, Ankpa, in Kogi State.
Presenting the lead debate on the bill, the sponsor, Senator Isah Jibrin, who represents Kogi East, said the bill seeks to strengthen Nigeria’s teacher education and training capacity.
The proposed legislation aims to upgrade the existing Kogi State College of Education, Ankpa, into a full-fledged Federal University of Education.
Senator Jibrin emphasized the critical role of education in national development and underscored the importance of specialized institutions for teacher training.
He further explained that the Federal University of Education, Ankpa, if upgraded will not only promote academic and professional programs but will also lead research and innovation in curriculum development and modern teaching methodologies,
According to the lawmaker, the existing College of Education in Ankpa is already boasts affiliations with six Nigerian universities and operates a range of degree programs making the transition to a university feasible without heavy financial implications, adding that the institution’s foundational infrastructure is already in place.
“The enactment of this bill will boost the quality of teacher education, address the rising demand for qualified educators, and support balanced educational growth across the North Central region.”
contributing on the debate senator Muhammad Adamu alleiro of Kebbi central supported the bill by stressing the need to have adequate, qualified and trained teachers to support president Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda to boost the educational sector.
Alleiro believed that the college doesn’t need much funding because is already in operations for years, but importantly at this time we need to solve the problems of educational decay by having a well qualified teachers to deliver knowledge correctly to the teaming Youth in Nigeria
Also in his comment senator Diket Plang representing Plateau central said the bill came at the right time when there is need to improve the capacity of the Nigerian teachers and upgrade the existing collage that does not require huge funding.
Accordingly this will help the university to upper post graduate educational courses that strengthen the educational needs to propel our educational system
Similarly, the senate also passed to second reading of a bill for an act to amend the Federal Universities of technology act to provide fir the establishment of Federal University of Technology Odukpani in Cross River state
The sponsor of the bill Senator Asuuquo Ekpenyong representing cross river south believed that the upgrading of the College to a university status will surely improve the technological quests fir socio economic development of the country.
He argued that all we need is the upgrade of the existing College thereby no much is needed to fund the institution going by the existing infrastructure in the college.
In a remark, president of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio referred the bills to the Senate committee on Tetfund and Tertiary education for further legislative actions.
Cov Bashir M
