(SINL NIGERIA) A bill for an act to establish the federal university of Agriculture, Kura, Kano State on Tuesday passed second in the Senate.
The bill sponsored by Senator Rufai Hanga (NNPP, Kano Central) was read for the first time on 23rd October, 2024.
Leading the debate on the bill, Senator Hanga noted that the bill is a bold step towards, not only addressing the educational needs of the people of Kano State, but will also serve as training ground for the development of Agriculture in the Country.
He said “Agriculture with its allied sectors is unquestionably the largest livelihood provider, particularly in the rural areas, and can contribute significantly to the GDP of the Nation.
“Demand for agricultural product is rising rapidly with increase in population and per capita income and growing demand from the industrial sector”.
He explained that the Federal University of Agriculture, Kura when established will provide the holistic development of agricultural education, knowledge, skills and the telescopic vision on the future that will help contribute to accelerate agricultural growth rate, enhance farmers’ income and generate employment in the sector.
Justifying the bill, Senator Hanga stressed that the location of the University, in Kura, is instructive; saying it is the hub of Agriculture in Kano State “and the establishment of the University will certainly register and promote the presence of the Federal Government in the Area and will help to restore and re-strengthen the citizens’ sense of belonging to this nation”.
Additionally, the lawmaker said the objectives of the bill include but not limited to “encourage the advancement of learning and to hold out to all persons without distinction of race, creed, sex or political, conviction the opportunity of acquiring tertiary education in Agriculture
“Develop and offer academic and professional programmes leading to the award of Diplomas, First Degrees, Postgraduate Research and Higher Degrees which emphasize Planning, Adaptive, Technical, Maintenance, Developmental and Productive skills in Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering and Allied Professional Disciplines with the aim of producing socially matured persons with capacity to improve on those disciplines and develop new ones, and to contribute to the scientific transformation of agriculture in Nigeria.
“Act as agents and catalysts, through postgraduate training, research and innovation for the effective and economic utilization, exploitation and conservation of Nigeria’s natural, agricultural, economic and human resources” among others.
Specifically, Hanga observed that the passage of the bill will help not only in transforming and supporting the agricultural policies of the federal government, the agricultural sector in Kano State and other neighboring States like, Katsina, Jigawa, Bauchi and Kaduna, but also Nigeria and West Africa in general.
