The Nigerian Senate has passed second reading of the Bill for an Act to Establish the Federal University of Education Ankpa, Kogi state.
This followed the presentation of the general principles of the bill at plenary by the sponsor , Senator Isa Jibrin (APC-Kogi).
Leading the debate on the bill, Senator Jibrin said it sought to upgrade the State College of Education, Ankpa to Federal University of Education Ankpa, was read the first time on Feb 18.
He said 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 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 specialized institution of higher learning at the Federal University of Education, Ankpa,” he said.
He said 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 State and the adjoining states,” he said.
Senator Diket Plang, (APC-Plateau), supporting the bill said the upgrading of Kogi State College of Education would improve quality of teachers the country.
Senator Adamu Aliero (APC-Kebbi) said: “We are only asking for upgrading of the institution and it is a specialised university that will 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”.
Senator 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, to 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.
“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 be able 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 Rivers State.
The bill was sponsored by Senator Asuqun 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
Confidence Okwuchi