Bill to establish specialised varsity in Epe, Lagos scales 2nd reading in Senate
A bill seeking to establish the Federal University of Science and Technology, Epe, Lagos, has passed second reading in the Senate.
This followed presentation of the lead debate at plenary on Tuesday, by the sponsor and Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele.
Leading the debate, the senator explained the significance of establishing the new university, which according to him, is designed to produce highly skilled graduates to drive the country’s innovation and economic growth.
Bamidele, representing Ekiti Central, said when finally established, the university would provide top-notch education in various fields of science and technology that would drive the country’s digital economy.
He said the university would offer a wide range of undergraduate programmes in fields such as Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Civil Engineering and Computer Science among others.
Bamidele also said that the proposed university “has a mission of producing highly skilled graduates, who will drive innovation and economic growth in Nigeria.
“This is the fundamental justification for the establishment of this specialised institution of higher learning, Federal University of Science and Technology, Epe, Lagos”.
Supporting the debate, Senate Deputy Leader, Oyelola Ashiru, noted that Epe symbolised new Lagos, gradually emerging the country’s fast-growing hub of economic and industrial complex.
According to Ashiru, Epe is where the new development is taking place, stating its proximity to Ibeju-Lekki, the hub of industrial activities, creative economy and real estate development.
With the rising profile of the host community, Ashiru urged the upper chamber to unanimously approve creation of the university for advancement of the community and Nigeria as a whole.
The Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau who presided over plenary, consequently, referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and Tetfund, to report back to plenary within four weeks.
