Nigerian Senate Approves Establishment of Two Federal Tertiary Institutions

By John Ikani

The Nigerian Senate has passed a Bill to establish the Federal University of Medicine and Medical Sciences in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The Red Chamber equally passed a bill seeking the establishment of the Federal College of Education, Gwoza in Borno State. The Bill was sponsored by Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume.

The passage of both Bills followed the consideration of two separate reports by the Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary); and Tertiary Institutions and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND).

A statement signed by Ezrel Tabiowo, Special Assistant (Press) to the President of the Senate, said Senator Umar Sadiq, who presented the report by the Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary) on behalf of its Chairman, Yahaya Oloriegbe, said the establishment of the Federal University of Medicine and Medical Sciences was informed by the imperative to create more access to higher education in the field of medicine and medical sciences.

It added that when established, the university would attract people to Abeokuta, Ogun State through the provision of higher educational academic and professional programmes to those seeking to pursue degrees in the field of medicine and allied professional disciplines.

Senator representing Cross Rivers central, Sandy Onor, who presented the report by the Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND Committee on behalf of the Chairman, Babba Kaita Ahmad, said the establishment of the Federal College of Education, Gwoza, would support the North-East zone in improving educational infrastructural needs while balancing access to education among diverse demographics in the country.