Senate approves Science & Technology University for FCT

The Senate has approved the establishment of a specialised University of Science and Technology in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The institution if fully completed will afford more students in the FCT admission opportunities.

The passage of the FCT University of Science and Technology ( Est, etc) Bill 2018 into law came 17 months after the federal government had earlier approved the establishment of the University at its weekly Executive Council meeting ( FEC ) on May 15, 2017.

Sponsored by Senator Philip Tanimu Aduda (PDP FCT) and treated by the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND, the bill passed the third reading after consideration of report submitted to that effect by the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Jibrin Barau ( APC Kano North ).

The committee was optimistic that the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has the financial wherewithal and required facilities of running such a University which it added, “would not only help in providing admission opportunities for knowledge seekers at that level but provides employment opportunities for qualified Nigerians in and outside FCT”.

The committee in the report , added that establishment of the University , would go a long way in promoting science and technology education highly needed at this digital age for required scientific discoveries and technological advancement .

Addressing the media after plenary, Senator Aduda efforts are on top gear to get similar passage in the House of Representatives for required presidential assent.

He disclosed that 500 hectares of land had already been provided for the University in Abaji Area Council of the FCT, aside blocks of classrooms and equipment also put in place by FCTA.

He said “as the Senator representing FCT and the sponsor of this bill, am very elated with its passage today in the Senate and happy to inform you that required concurrence from the House of Representatives will be carried out soonest for the awaiting presidential assent being a project conceived and approved by the federal government in May last year .

“FCT needs a university of its own outside the University of Abuja established in 1988 to cater for more and more people seeking for university education within the territory and in Nigeria at large.

“The University as it is today in Abaji, is at a stage of 90% readiness for takeoff and that will surely happen before the next academic session”