The Senate has approved the upgrade of the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun State to a University of Technology.
This comes on the heels of the passage of “A Bill for an Act to Provide for the Establishment of Federal University of Technology, Ilaro and for other Matters Connected Therewith,” sponsored by Senator Solomon Adeola, APC Lagos West, which passed the third reading.
The bill, originally sponsored by Senator Adeola in the 8th Senate, but could not be passed before the expiration of the 8th Senate, was again represented in the 9th Senate for consideration and passage.
Presenting the report of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND, Senator Sadiq Umar Sulaiman, APC, Kwara, on behalf the chairman of the committee, Senator Ahmad Babba-Kaita, APC, Katsina North, said that there is need to expand opportunities for advance education in technology, adding that the upgrade of the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro to a University of Technology will be of tremendous benefits for host communities, provide employment as well as educational development to quickly increase avenue for degree awards in technological fields for teeming Nigerian youths.
The bill, passed after thorough consideration of its clauses by the Senate in plenary, is now set for concurrence of the House of Representatives and eventual assent by the President.
Senate President Ahmad Lawan congratulated Senator Adeola for the passage of the bill that he had pursued since the 8th Senate.
Elated at the passage of the bill, Senator Adeola stated that the passage marks a fulfilment of one of his legislative agenda in relation to institutional development of education at all levels, adding that the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro already have enough facilities for the upgrade to take off immediately without much expenditure, as would have been required for a brand-new university.
