By Our Correspondent
The Senate, on Thursday, pledged to make Nigeria a beacon of educational excellence.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, stated this during a public hearing on two bills organised by the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund.
The bills include “The Federal Polytechnic Onueke, Ezza South, Ebonyi (Establishment) Bill, 2024 and the Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri (Establishment) Bill, 2024”.
The Senator representing Imo East, Francis Onyewuchi sponsored the Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri (Establishment) Bill, 2024.
Akpabio, represented by Sen. Titus Zam (Benue North West) said that stakeholders’ contributions to the bills would serve as a testament to the collective determination to make Nigeria a beacon of educational excellence
“Today’s gathering reflects our shared commitment to fostering inclusive and sustainable development through education.
“Education remains a cornerstone for national progress and its accessibility to all Nigerians, regardless of their geographical or socio-economic status, is a priority for this Senate”.
He said that the two bills under consideration were aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s educational framework and expanding opportunities for skill acquisition and intellectual development.
Akpabio assured that the Senate remained committed to legislative initiatives that promote equity, growth and the prosperity of the nation.
In his remarks, Chairman, Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, Senator Muntari Dandutse said the bill on the Federal Polytechnic Onueke aimed to provide technical and vocational education.
Dandutse said that the bills also aligned with government’s agenda to strengthen the education sector, reduce unemployment and improve the socio-economic conditions in the country.
Contributing, Senator Kenneth Eze (Ebonyi Central) who is the sponsor of the bill said the seemed to solve a very nagging challenge in the labour market.
He said that the polytechnic with the focus on vocational, skill-based education, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and applied sciences, was a paradigm shift for a country struggling with an alarming unemployment rate.
Eze said that the school was an initiative that had the potential to advance human capital development and provide an assured future for youths in Nigeria and Ebonyi in particular.
