Federal Varsity of Education Ankpa, Kogi, bill passes second reading in Senate
Federal Varsity of Education Ankpa, Kogi, bill passes second reading in Senate
A Bill for an Act to Establish the Federal University of Education Ankpa, Kogi passed second reading in Senate on Tuesday.
This followed the presentation of the general principles of the bill at plenary by the sponsor, Sen. Isa Jibrin (APC-Kogi)
Jibrin leading debate on the bill, said that it sought to upgrade the State College of Education, Ankpa to Federal University of Education Ankpa, adding that the bill was read the first time on Feb. 18.
He said that the development of a sound and robust educational system in any country was predicated on the availability of qualified and well-trained teachers to impart the required knowledge on the students.
He said that the need to have a strong system in the educational sector for training of more qualified and trained teachers as obtainable in other countries cannot be over emphasised.
“This is the fundamental justification for the establishment of this specialised institution of higher learning at the Federal University of Education, Ankpa,” he said.
He said that the eventual enactment of the bill would help transform the decayed educational infrastructure in Nigeria and change the educational fortunes of the country for the better.
“It will also provide a balanced educational development in Kogi and the adjoining states,” he said.
Sen. Diket Plang, (APC-Plateau), supporting the bill, said that the upgrading of Kogi State College of Education would improve quality of teachers in the country.
Sen. Adamu Aliero (APC-Kebbi) said: “We are only asking for upgrading of the institution and it is a specialised university that would train teachers nationwide, not only in Kogi.
“We know one of the problems facing the educational sector in Nigeria today is lack of trained teachers. This is responsible for the low level of education we have now.
“But if you have universities like this that are specialised in training teachers, it will go a long way in improving the educational standard of the country.
Sen. Anthony Ani (APC-Ebony), commended the sponsor of the bill, adding that the bill was not only timely but apt.
“I want to align myself, very strongly, to the content and the objectives of this bill.
“In particular, we need to know that the greatest investment that the nation can offer to its citizens is education. And like my colleague said.
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“This is a specialised university of education, where teachers for primary, secondary and tertiary institutions are being trained. Every institution requires good teachers to teach.
“I’m impressed by the first objective of this bill, that says that we need to encourage the advancement of learning to all persons without prejudice to race, creed, sex, or political descent. University education is meant for everybody.”
Senate also passed for second reading, a bill for an Act to amend the Federal Universities of Technology to provide for the establishment of the Federal University of Technology, Odukpani, Cross River State.
The bill was sponsored by Sen. Asuquo Ekpenyong (APC-Cross -River).
Both bills were referred to Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund for further legislative inputs and to revert back to plenary in four weeks.
