The Nigerian Senate has on Thursday, May 23 passed a bill that seesYabatech be upgraded to the City University of Technology (Est, etc) Yaba Bill, 2018 for second reading.
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| Senate plenary |
Senator Gbenga Ashafa (APC-Lagos) moved the motion at the plenary presided over by Senate President, Bukola Saraki in Abuja.
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The bill was seeking to transform the Yaba College Technology (YabaTech) in Lagos State to the City University of Technology Yaba, NAN reported.
Leading the debate, Ashafa, who represents Lagos East senatorial district, argued that if the bill is considered, it would enhance the capability of the institution to achieve its objectives.
“Nigeria’s steady march towards education for all in the shortest possible time has taken a giant leap with the introduction of this bill.
“I am personally excited by the prospect of transforming this polytechnic to a university of technology because it will motivate both students and academic staff. It will also upgrade the facilities and enhance it capability to achieve its objectives.
Similarly, the new university of technology will encourage the advancement of learning and hold out to all persons without distinction of race, creed or political conviction the opportunity of acquiring a higher and liberal education,” he said.
Citing instances, the lawmaker noted that in similar circumstances in the United Kingdom, most of the polytechnics were upgraded to universities.
”If Nigeria has the plan to become one of the world’s leading economies as currently being pursued by the government, we must be ready to adjust and position our educational institutions so that its products are geared for the technological challenges inherent in such projections,” he said.
When the motion was put on a voice vote, it was unanimously adopted by the legislators. Saraki, therefore, referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND for further legislative action and report back within a week.
Also, the Senate also passed a Bill for the Establishment of Federal Polytechnic Iwerekun, Ibeju-Lekki Lagos, sponsored by Ashafa for second reading.