A bill seeking to upgrade Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) into a full-fledged university passed second reading in the Senate on Tuesday. The proposed legislation, titled A Bill for an Act to Provide for the Establishment of the Yaba Federal University of Technology and Vocational Studies, Yaba, Lagos State, was sponsored by Senate Leader Micheal Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central).
The move follows an earlier statement by Minister of State for Education, Tunji Alausa, who during a February visit to YABATECH, revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had approved the institution’s conversion to university status through presidential fiat.
Leading the debate, Bamidele said the bill was necessary to provide legal backing for the presidential directive. He emphasized that the transformation of YABATECH into a university aligns with Nigeria’s goal of expanding access to quality tertiary education, particularly in technology and vocational training. He noted that the institution is well-positioned to adapt to the academic and structural demands of a university, while maintaining its mission of producing skilled manpower to drive the country’s technological and economic development.
The bill received unanimous support from senators and was passed for second reading through a voice vote presided over by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin.
In a related development, the Senate also passed a bill to establish the Nigeria Police University of Science and Technology at Erinja, Yewa, Ogun State. The bill, based on recommendations from the Senate Committee on Police Affairs led by Senator Abdulhamid Ahmed Mallam-Madori, aims to enhance law enforcement through specialized training and research in science and technology. The proposed university is expected to boost local economic development, improve infrastructure, and promote community engagement in the host region.
Additionally, the Senate passed another bill to establish the Federal University of Agriculture, Kura, Kano State. The bill, sponsored by Senator Rufa’i Hanga (NNPP, Kano Central), was adopted after the report of the Senate Committee on Agricultural Colleges and Institutions, chaired by Senator Simon Lalong, was presented and supported by lawmakers.
