By Haruna Salami
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has commended President Bola Tinubu for the establishment of additional federal universities across the country, describing the initiative as a bold step toward enhancing access to education. He, however, called for increased investment in human capital development to match the country’s growing population and developmental needs.
Akpabio made the remarks during a public hearing organised by the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, chaired by Senator Muntari Dandutse. The hearing focused on six bills seeking to establish or amend federal universities in different parts of Nigeria.
The bills under consideration include:
“Federal University of Education (Special), Oyo (Establishment) Bill, 2024;
“Federal University of Health Sciences, Funtua, Katsina State (Establishment) Bill, 2024;
“Federal University of Technology, Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State (Establishment) Bill, 2024;
“Federal University of Geomatics, Oyo, Oyo State (Establishment) Bill, 2025;
“Federal University of Technology and Vocational Studies, Yaba, Lagos State (Establishment) Bill, 2025 and
“Federal University of Technology, Omoku, Rivers State (Amendment) Bill, 2025”.
Represented by Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, Akpabio stated that the country was at a crucial phase in its developmental journey and required robust investments in education to build a skilled and innovative workforce.
“Our population continues to grow, and so must our investments in human capital,” he said. “Universities focusing on technology, health sciences, education, and vocational studies are critical to shaping a workforce that will drive innovation and deliver essential services to transform Nigeria’s economy.”
He noted that the inclusion of specialised institutions such as the proposed University of Education (Special), Oyo, and the University of Geomatics demonstrated a commitment to addressing specific educational and developmental needs.
He also emphasised the need to ensure that once established, these institutions are adequately funded, sustainably managed, and structured to meet the evolving needs of 21st-century learners.
In his remarks, Senator Muntari Dandutse, who sponsored the bill to establish the Federal University of Health Sciences in Funtua, Katsina State, underscored the need for Nigeria to keep pace with global trends in medical science.
“With advances in science and technology, particularly the growing use of Artificial Intelligence and robotics in healthcare, traditional medical practices are evolving rapidly,” he said. “We must act urgently to align our educational system with current global best practice”.
