The Senate at the plenary Thursday approved Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences Item Bende (Establishment) Bill and Federal College of Education, Bende (Establishment) Bill for third reading.
The passage of the bills sponsored by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, followed the consideration and adoption of recommendations presented by the Senate Deputy Leader, Sen. Lola Ashiru.
Recall that the bills reports seeking establishment of the university and college of education in Bende were approved during the Committee of the Whole of the House of Representatives and sent to Senate for Concurrence.
The Bill for an Act to establish Federal College of Education, Bende in Abia seeks to provide full-time courses, training in technology, applied sciences, commerce, social sciences, arts and humanities among others.
Kalu had in his lead debate stated that Bende has remained undivided since its creation in 1976, even though with the size of four Local Government Areas as found in comparative federal constituencies.
“Despite its strategic location in Abia and sharing a border with Akwa Ibom, with a growing population and landmass, there is no tertiary institution in the Federal Constituency operated either by Federal or State Government. Bende deserves to have the presence of a tertiary institution to serve the education need of the teeming youthful population, especially now that the need for well-trained educationists has risen. This is accompanied by the need to fill the gaps created by both the consequences of brain drain and the lack of qualified educationists to provide quality training at all levels of education,” he said.
For the bill seeking the establishment of Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, Bende, Abia State, he said when it becomes law, the university will be charged with the responsibility to, among other things, offer full-time training leading to the award of degrees in medical and health sciences.
He noted that specialised medical universities have become very important in Nigeria as there is increasing demand for medical and health professionals, especially now that the country keep losing her trained medical and health personnel to other countries of the world.
The lawmaker added that the early passage and signing of the bills into law is not only necessary but imperative.
