A bill sponsored by Senator Ned Munir Nwoko (Delta North) to upgrade the Federal College of Education (Technical) Asaba to the Federal University of Technology, Asaba, passed its first reading today, Wednesday, October 2, 2024, in the Senate.

The bill, titled “A Bill for An Act to Alter the Federal Universities of Technology Act, Cap.F23, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, to Provide for the Upgrade of the Federal College of Education (Technical) Asaba to the Federal University of Technology, Asaba, and for Related Matters”, seeks to amend the existing legislation governing federal universities of technology.

The proposed amendment will alter section 1(1) of the Federal Universities of Technology Act by inserting a new subsection (f), which will officially establish the Federal University of Technology, Asaba, as one of Nigeria’s federal universities of technology.

The explanatory memorandum attached to the bill emphasizes that, by upgrading the Federal College of Education (Technical) Asaba to a full-fledged university, the bill intends to expand its academic offerings and align it with the national objectives of promoting higher education in technology. It also explained that the bill’s primary aim is to enhance the role of the institution in advancing technological education and research.