By Musa Adamu
The Senate through its Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund , intensified the move to upgrade the Yaba College of Technology and Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, to Universities of Technology.
It also made a similar move for upgrade of the Nigeria French Language Village in Ajara Badagry , Lagos State to an Inter – University Centre for French Language Studies.
Planned legislations of the Upper Legislative Chamber to these effect, came to the fore Thursday, when the Committee led by Senator Ahmad Baba – Kaita (APC Katsina North) held a public hearing on the three bills proposing the legislations.
In his presentation on the bills at the Public Hearing , the Sponsor, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola said the need to expand opportunities for the teeming youths in the country in gaining admission admission into Universities for good education , particularly technology – based one , informed his sponsorship of the bills.
He said: “Permit me to state clearly that these three bills namely: (1) “A Bill for an Act to Provide for the Establishment of the Federal University of Technology, Yaba ; and for other matters Connected therewith” (SB. 85) 2021; (2) “A Bill for an Act to Provide for the Establishment of the Federal University of Technology, Ilaro; to Make Comprehensive Provisions for its due Management and Administration and for Other Matters Connected therewith” (SB. 84) 2021 and (3) “A Bill for an Act to Provide for the Establishment of the Nigerian French Language Village as an interuniversity Centre for French Studies and for Other Matters Connected therewith (58.483), are all pursuant of one of my legislative agenda to enhance and develop educational institutions as well as human resources development in Nigeria.
“It is elementary to state that all aspects of development in modern world are premised on the level of education obtainable in the society.
“With the massive explosion in our population estimated at over 200 million and the youthful segment consisting of over half of that figure, there is no doubt that the number and available admission spaces in our existing universities are quite limited in absorbing the number of our people desiring higher education at the university level.
“With about 170 public and private universities in Nigeria with a capacity for about 700,000 students at any point in time, it is clear that in Nigeria we are yet to get to the point where we have enough admission spaces in universities for our youths in Nigeria.
“The need to expand opportunities for our teeming youth in gaining admission into universities for good education, particularly technology-based education, informed my sponsorship of the bills to upgrade two major existing polytechnics to full-blown universities of technology”.
