(SINL NIGERIA) A bill to upgrade Jigawa College of Education Gumel to federal university of Education scaled second reading at the Senate on Wednesday.
The bill which was read the first time in the Senate on 6th November 2023, seeks to provide a balanced educational development in Jigawa State.
Leading a debate on the bill, the sponsor, Senator Husseini Babangida (Jigawa North West) argued that the realization that Universities of Education are tools for national development have led to quest for, and vigorous expansion of such institutions in Nigeria.
He explained that the development of a sound and robust educational system in any country is predicated on the availability of qualified and well trained benchers to impact the required knowledge on the students.
Consequently, Senator Babangida observed that the need to have a strong system in the educational sector that “shall continuously produce well qualified and trained teachers as is obtainable in other countries cannot be overemphasized”.
“This is the fundamental justification for the establishment of this specialized institution of higher learning: the Federal University of Education Gumel, Jigawa State” he added.
The lawmaker further added that the Jigawa State Government has already accepted to hand over the College of Education Gumel for the purpose of this University.
He stated “the enactment of this bill will go a long way in transforming the decayed educational infrastructure in Nigeria and change the educational fortunes of the country for the better”.
He highlighted the objectives of the bill, saying it will encourage the advancement of learning and to hold out to all persons without distinction of race, creed, sex or political conviction.
“Develop and offer academic and professional programmes leading to the award of certificates, first degrees, post-graduate research, diploma and higher degrees with emphasis on planning, developmental and adaptive skills in Education, technology, applied science, agriculture, commerce, arts, social science, humanities, management and allied professional disciplines.
“Produce socially mature Educational men and women with capabilities not to only understand Educational need of Nigeria as a nation, but also to exploit existing Educational infrastructure and improve on it to develop new ones,
“Act as agents and catalysts for effective Educational system, through post graduate training, research and innovation, for effective economic utilization and conservation of the country’s human resources.
“Collaborate with other national and international institutions involved in training, research and development of Education with a view to promoting governance, leadership and management skills among Educational managers”.
