Bill for science and tech varsity in Lagos scales second reading in senate

A bill to set up a federal university of science and technology in Epe, Lagos state, passed second reading in the senate on Tuesday.

The bill was sponsored by Opeyemi Bamidele, senate leader, and seconded by Oyelola Ashiru, the deputy majority leader.

Making a case for the establishment of the university, Bamidele said it will churn out highly skilled graduates who will contribute to innovation and economic growth of Nigeria.

He said that once established, the university would offer quality education in various science and technology fields, and help to boost the nation’s digital economy.

He said the university will offer a wide range of undergraduate programmes in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer engineering, civil engineering, computer science, software engineering, data science, artificial intelligence, physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics among others.

“This is the fundamental justification for the establishment of this specialised institution of higher learning, federal university of science and technology, Epe, Lagos state,” he said.

“For Nigeria to become one of the world’s leading economies as currently being pursued by this administration, we must be ready to adjust and position our educational institutions so that their products are geared for the technological challenges inherent in such projections.

“The proposed university of science and technology is a tertiary institution dedicated to providing top-notch education in various fields of science and technology.”

Supporting Bamidele’s argument, Ashiru referred to Epe’s growing status as the “new Lagos”.

He said the area has emerged as a key hub for economic and industrial development.

Ashiru urged the senate to approve the university’s establishment given the area’s rapid development, adding that it will benefit the local community and the country.

Following the debate, the senate passed the bill for a second reading and referred it to the committee on tertiary institutions and TETFund, which is expected to present its report within four weeks.