The Senate has handed a bill searching for to offer a authorized framework for the Federal University of Technology, Ikot Abasi (FUTIA), Akwa Ibom State, 5 years after it was established.
The bill, sponsored by Ekong Sampson, senator representing Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District, was handed on Thursday after consideration of its provisions.
Samuel Udoma, Mr Sampson’s media aide, introduced the event in a Facebook post on Thursday, describing the laws as a major step in the direction of securing the university’s authorized standing.
The university’s Vice-Chancellor, Leo Daniel, welcomed the passage, describing it as “the best gift of the year” from the National Assembly to the establishment.
The growth comes as FUTIA expands its educational choices, having not too long ago secured approval from the National Universities Commission (NUC) to start 12 further diploma programmes from the 2026/2027 educational session.
Why FUTIA wants an Act of Parliament
FUTIA was among the many federal tertiary establishments authorised by former President Muhammadu Buhari in June 2021. However, the university was established with out an Act of Parliament.
Mr Sampson sponsored the bill to handle the hole and supply the establishment with authorized backing for its administration and operations.
According to the university, the laws will strengthen its institutional basis and help its mandate to advance technology-driven schooling, analysis, innovation and sustainable growth.
The bill’s passage adopted legislative consideration on the National Assembly, together with a public listening to at which stakeholders submitted memoranda in help of the proposed laws.
Akpabio highlights university’s international significance
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who presided over Thursday’s plenary, emphasised the establishment’s potential contribution past Nigeria.
Mr Akpabio mentioned the university would serve “the global community, not just Nigerians,” whereas commending the tenth Senate for its dedication to education-focused laws.
Earlier, Muntari Dandutse, chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, offered the committee’s report on the bill.
Mr Dandutse mentioned the institution of FUTIA and different tertiary establishments would deepen Nigerians’ entry to technology-based increased schooling.
Following clause-by-clause consideration, the Senate learn the bill for the third time and handed it.
The chamber additionally handed payments establishing the Federal University of Health Sciences, Funtua, Katsina State, and the Federal University of Technology, Babura, Jigawa State.
NUC approves 12 further diploma programmes
In a separate growth, the NUC authorised 12 further diploma programmes at FUTIA following a profitable useful resource verification go to to the university.
A press release posted on Facebook and signed by the university registrar, Offiongita Nkang, mentioned the approval was conveyed in an NUC letter dated 11 September 2026.
The newly authorised programmes embody biomedical engineering, pc engineering, supplies and metallurgical engineering, mechatronics engineering, chemistry, industrial chemistry, environmental administration technology, biotechnology, environmental well being science, well being info administration, group well being science and property administration.
The approval brings the quantity of NUC-approved programmes on the university to 36, in accordance with the establishment.
The university commenced its pioneer educational session in 2023/2024.
The vice-chancellor mentioned the enlargement mirrored the establishment’s dedication to widening entry to increased schooling and strengthening educating, analysis, manpower growth and group service.
Mr Daniel, described by the university as Nigeria’s first professor of aeronautics and astronautics, pledged that FUTIA would proceed to introduce programmes aligned with current and future academic wants.
He thanked the administration staff, educational board, governing council and different stakeholders for supporting the establishment’s growth.
The university suggested candidates who sat for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination and want to research the newly authorised programs to vary their course decisions by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board’s Central Admissions Processing System.
Candidates who didn’t initially choose FUTIA as their first-choice establishment however scored no less than 160 can even apply by altering their first-choice establishment to the university.
Sampson’s schooling agenda
Mr Sampson has additionally sponsored a bill searching for to determine the Federal University of Medical Sciences in Eket, which stays earlier than the Senate.
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He has advocated the total university standing of the University of Maritime Studies, Oron, as half of efforts to strengthen tertiary schooling throughout the three federal constituencies in Akwa Ibom South.
FUTIA’s institution in 2021 generated controversy over its location, leading to exchanges between Ita Enang, then a presidential aide, and the administration of former Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom.
PREMIUM TIMES reported the disagreement in August 2021. Mr Enang is now Nigeria’s ambassador to Germany.
With the Senate’s passage of the bill, the legislative course of on the National Assembly has been concluded. The bill is predicted to be transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
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