The Nigerian Senate has passed a bill to establish the Federal University of Okigwe in Imo State.
The bill, which reached its third reading on Tuesday, was sponsored by Senator Patrick Ndubueze.
It is expected to introduce academic programmes in fields such as agriculture, environmental sciences, epidemiology, virology, robotics, and nuclear technology.
Ndubueze explained that the Imo State government has already made provisions for the necessary facilities that the proposed university will take over.
During the session, the Senate, led by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, thoroughly reviewed the bill before approving it.
Jibrin praised Ndubueze for pushing the proposal forward and stressed the importance of education in national development.
He dismissed concerns about the number of universities in the country, stating that more institutions are needed to meet educational demands.
He also expressed hope that the president would give his approval for the university’s establishment.
In another related development, the National Universities Commission (NUC) has approved the establishment of the Cross River State University of Education and Entrepreneurship, making it the 67th state-owned university in Nigeria.
The announcement was made in Abuja on Tuesday when NUC’s Executive Secretary, Abdullahi Ribadu, presented the recognition letter to Governor Bassey Otu, who was represented by Professor Anthony Owan-Enoh, the Secretary to the State Government.
The new university is set to focus on education and entrepreneurship, aiming to equip students with the skills needed to succeed in today’s economy.
The approval is part of efforts to improve higher education in the state and create more learning opportunities for young people.
Cross River State currently has six universities, including one federal, one state, and four private institutions.
With this addition, the government seeks to expand access to quality education and provide more employment opportunities.
