The Clerk to the National Assembly, Ojo Olatunde Amos, has written to President Muhammadu Buhari to give his assent to Federal University of Technology, Ipokia, Ogun State (establishment) Bill, which was first passed into law by the House of Representatives in July 2021.
The law is yet to come into effect almost two years after it was passed.
A memo from the National Assembly Clerk addressed to the President, entitled: “Federal University of Technology, Ipokia (Establishment) Bill, 2022”, on January 9, reads: “In consonance with the provisions of the Acts Authentication Act Cap. A2, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, I wish, with due respect, to forward to your Excellency, the authenticated copies of the Federal University of Technology, Ipokia (Establishment) Bill, 2022 for your consideration and assent.
“After your Excellency’s assent, one copy of the signed Bill should be retained in your office while the other two are to be returned for our further action, please.”
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Kolawole Lawal, was read for the first time on November 27, 2019 and passed through second reading one month later. It was passed into law by the House on July 8, 2021 and sent to the Senate for concurrence in accordance with the lawmaking process.
Lawal, who is the chairman of the House Committee on Ethics & Privileges, represents Egbado South/Ipokia Federal Constituency of Ogun State.
During the Second Reading of the bill, the lawmaker told his colleagues that being a border community, the establishment of a university of technology in the town would encourage the people to seek higher education and also attract foreign students from neighbouring countries, and enhance development.
He said technology plays a critical role in transforming societies and economies through enhancing efficiency, connectivity and access to resources and services.
According to him, “developments in science and technology are fundamentally altering the way people live, connect, communicate and transact, with profound effects on economic development. Therefore, it is very important that we invest in quality education for youths.
“The economic growth, development and self-reliance of countries are actually rated as developed, developing or under-developed using the parameter of its technological development, which must be based on sound technological education. As an engine of growth, the potential of technology is endless.
“The neglect of technological education is robbing Nigeria of the contribution the graduates would be making to national development. Nigeria needs competent and internationally competitive auto mechanics and engineers, carpenters, plumbers, electricians and electrical engineers, fashion and leather designers, storekeepers, technologically competent farmers, etc.
“Graduates of technological education are mostly highly skilled entrepreneurs. Therefore, a university devoted to developing technological education in Nigeria will produce the professionals needed to take Nigeria to the next level.”
“Many of the so-called expatriate engineers, who are being paid huge sums of money in foreign currencies to build roads and bridges or dredge our channels, are products of colleges or universities of technology.”
He said further that the university would promote technological advancement and make youths of the area employable by local and international markets, while also dismissing insinuations that youths of the area are all smugglers, adding that youths in his constituency are lovers of education.
He said the site of the “abandoned Ogun State Polytechnic, Ipokia” could be taken over by the Federal Government for the proposed University of Technology.
The objective of the institution includes encouraging the advancement of learning to all without distinction of race, religion, sex or political conviction, and the opportunity of acquiring higher education in Nigeria.