A bill on establishment of the Federal University of Science, Deba, Gombe State, sponsored by Senator Mohammed Danjuma Goje, passed second reading during the Senate plenary yesterday.
Leading the debate on the bill, Goje, a former governor of Gombe State, stressed the university’s importance to the socioeconomic development of the state, the North East geopolitical zone and Nigeria at large.
“The proposed University of Science will provide the knowledge and expertise to drive modern scientific innovations in Nigeria. As outlined in the bill, the university’s objectives include demonstrating scientific knowledge, skills, attitude and experience, especially in their professional discipline, with a global mindset that uses critical thinking and problem-solving approaches.
“There is a strong justification that Nigeria needs more universities, specifically specialised universities for its necessary development among the community of nations. That is, if the country wants to compete with other developed nations economically, scientifically and technologically, it needs additional higher institutions of learning, especially the type this bill seeks to establish,” he said.
Contributing to the bill, Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi) threw his weight behind the establishment of the university, saying that when established, it would go a long way in producing the needed manpower for the country’s development.
Describing Senator Goje as the architect of modern Gombe, he said the university would benefit not only the people of Gombe State but also the entire North East geopolitical zone and, by extension, the country.
Summing up the debate on the bill, the deputy president of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, who presided over the plenary, described it as people-oriented and, hence, should be supported by all.
Thereafter, he referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND under the chairmanship of Senator Muntari Dandutse for further legislative actions.
