Thursday, March 28, 2024

Senate wants University of Technology, Agriculture established in Ondo, Delta

…refers Bills to Committee

Uba Group

BY BENEDICT NWACHUKWU, ABUJA

Two bills seeking to establish Federal Universities of Technology and Agriculture in Araromi Obu, Ondo State, and Aboh, Delta State, respectively, have scaled the second reading in the Senate.

The bills were sponsored by Senators Nicholas Tofowomo of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ondo South; and Peter Nwaoboshi, also of the PDP, Delta North.

Nwaoboshi, in his lead debate, said that Aboh, which was a part of the Ndokwa ethnic group in Delta State, held huge deposits of crude oil and gas resources.

“Ndokwa is a major contributor to the national economy, in addition to generating 480 Megawatts from the Okpai Independent Gas Power Plant,” the lawmaker said.

He lamented that despite the immense contribution of Ndokwa Federal Constituency to the Nigerian economy, it continued to suffer neglect.

“Mr. President, each day that this institution is not in existence is a disservice to this country and, I must say, a continuation of a historical pattern of systemic abandonment of the peace-loving people of Ndokwa, who give their best for the good of all.

“They want this institution. They deserve it. Let us give it to them. It will promote national development and harmony,” he stated.

He added that the establishment of the Federal University of Agriculture and Technology, Aboh, would be in response to the Federal Government’s policy to establish a university with specialisation in agriculture in every geo-political zone.

“The South-South geo-political zone does not have one yet. Therefore, the proposed Federal University of Agriculture and Technology, Aboh, is for the South-South region in line with this equitable policy,” he said.
He emphasised that the institution when established, would be a centre of excellence with specialised research and study interests in the immense natural endowments in Ndokwa and beyond.

The lawmaker disclosed that Ndokwa people in Aboh had offered to donate a large expanse of land in excess of 100 hectares for the development of the main campus of the university.

Contributing to the debate, the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, described Aboh as a major contributor to the economy of the country but regretted the level of neglect they had suffered.

He said, “They have been crying for a higher institution, either from the state government or Federal Government.

“But for some reasons, we are unable to explain, Mr. President, they have been deprived.

“The perception on the street in the federal constituency is that government is indeed very wicked to them.
“Mr. President, by bringing this bill, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi seeks to correct that perception.”

He disclosed that about a month ago, notwithstanding these agitations, the Delta State government established three new state universities, but none was established in this federal constituency.

“Let me make it very clear, that those areas where the new universities were established are deserving. I’m not in any way suggesting that they are not deserving.

“But this federal constituency is most deserving, taking into account that others already have higher institutions of learning – either federal or state.”

The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, referred both bills seeking to establish a Federal University of Agriculture and Technology in Aboh (Delta State, and Araromi Obu (Ondo State), to the Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND.

The Committee which is chaired by Senator Ahmad Babba Kaita is expected to carry out further legislative work on the bills and report back in four weeks.

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