Stakeholders Urge NASS To Facilitate FUTIA Establishment 

From Emmanuel Iyoho
ABUJA 
Stakeholders have called on the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TetFund to expeditiously facilitate the passage of the Bill for an Act to establish the Federal University of Technology, Ikot Abasi in Akwa Ibom State.
They also called for the inclusion of vocational and continuing education programmes as courses of study in the University, saying the establishment of the institution becomes necessary in view of its economic and educational importance to the people of the State and Nigeria in general.
These are part of the recommendations as contained in a 4-page Memorandum presented by the President of Ikot Abasi, Mkpat Enin and Eastern Obolo Federal Constituency Forum and other concerned citizens of Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District as well as other indigenes of the State at the public hearing held in Abuja, recently.
In his presentation, Edidiong Ubeh, a lawyer called on the legislators to approve a temporary campus for the kick start and fast-track as well as easy take-off of the University.
According to him, such designated temporary campus should be in an existing public institutions or facilities in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of the State.
Ubeh urged the legislators to make provisions for scholarships, exchange programmes and partnership with relevant technology institutes across the world.
  “The Bill when passed into law will ensure total adherence to local content principle in every area of the institution.
“Distinguished members of the National Assembly, the Federal University of Technology, Ikot Abasi will not only address regional educational inequality, but, also serve as a catalyst for national innovation, job creation and sustainable development.
  “We recommend that the Bill provides for a dedicated take -off grant from the federal government of Nigeria and allows Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) to aid infrastructure development,” Ubeh said and called on the Senate Committee to support the accelerated passage of the Bill and ensure effective and full implementation.
Earlier, the sponsor of the Bill and senator representing Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District, Senator Ekong Sampson, enumerated the unique significance of the Federal University of Technology, Ikot Abasi, describing it as a watershed in the collective pursuit of access to education for socioeconomic and national development.
Sampson, a lawyer who is the chairman,  Senate Committee on Solid Minerals, said with a well-structured curriculum, courses offered by FUTIA was positioned to be a beacon of innovation, driving technological advancements and human capacity development in Nigeria and beyond.
Some of the courses Sampson said included: Aerospace Engineering, Cyber Security, Software Engineering, among others.
Speaking on behalf of the University, the vice chancellor, Professor Leo Daniel, stated that the public hearing represented a critical juncture in the legislative pathway to provide full statutory backing for the establishment of FUTIA, a specialised institution with the mandate to advance technology-driven education, research, innovation and sustainable development in Nigeria.
The Vice Chancellor, who is a Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics, commended the Senate’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s educational architecture and appreciated the opportunity to contribute to the legislative process.
Daniel, on behalf of the Governing Council, management team, staff and students of the University, thanked the federal government for establishing the institution in June 2021 as well as commended the leadership of the National Assembly, the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND, for facilitating the legislative framework.
He lauded Senator Sampson for sponsoring the Bill and acknowledged the strategic support of critical stakeholders of the institution including Senator Udoma Udo Udoma and others.
Daniel further commended groups and individuals that submitted memoranda in support of the FUTIA Establishment Bill as well as the support of host communities.
   The pro chancellor and chairman, Governing Council of the University, Dr. Emaeyak Ukpong, who spoke on behalf of the Governing Council, appreciated the National Assembly, particularly, the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund for the prompt consideration of the Institution’s establishment Bill.
  Ukpong, a former federal lawmaker, in his submission highlighted the unique significance and location of FUTIA, stressing that the University is well positioned to provide the needed manpower for all the multinationals and international oil companies operating in the zone.
The Pioneer reports that the Federal University of Technology, Ikot Abasi, is an already existing institution, established in 2021 by former President Muhammadu Buhari. 
While the institution is currently running academic programmes and administration, it is therefore an established fact that the Bill when pass into law would consolidate and cement its establishment, in line with extant legislative procedure on establishment of federal institutions in Nigeria.