President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio has said that the approval for the establishment of new tertiary institutions in the country by the National Assembly was aimed at making education, at all levels, more accessible to Nigerians.
The Senate and the House of Representatives, in concurrence to each other’s bill by lawmakers from both chambers, have continued to approve the establishment of more tertiary institutions in different geo-political zones of the country.
Akpabio spoke weekend at the opening ceremony of a public hearing organised on bills seeking for establishment of Federal Polytechnic, Onueke, Ezza South in Ebonyi State and Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri in Imo State, respectively, organised by the Senate Committee on Tertiary Education and TETFund at the Senate Wing of National Assembly in Abuja.
The Senate President said the gathering reflected the shared commitments of the Senate and other critical stakeholders to fostering inclusive and sustainable development through education.
“Education remains a cornerstone for national progress and its accessibility to all Nigerians, regardless of their geographical or socio-economic status, is a priority for this Senate.
“In a nutshell, creation of more tertiary institutions, particularly, specialized ones, is geared towards making education at that level, more accessible to Nigerians.j
“The two bills under consideration are aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s educational framework and expanding opportunities for skill acquisition and intellectual development,” he stressed.
The Senate, according to him, remained committed to legislative initiatives that promote equity, growth and the prosperity of the nation.
Earlier In his welcome remarks, the chairman of the committee, Senator Muntari Dandutse (APC Katsina South), said the two proposed Institutions, aligned with government’s agenda to strengthen the education sector, reduce unemployment and improve the socio-economic conditions in the country.