The Senate has begun consultations on a bill seeking to establish the Federal University of Science and Technology in Korokorosei, Bayelsa State, to expand specialised education and develop the skilled workforce needed to drive Nigeria’s scientific and technological advancement.
The Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund held a public hearing on the proposed legislation on Thursday, chaired by Senator Muntari Dandutse.
Declaring the hearing open on behalf of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Minority Whip, Senator Ibrahim Mustapha, said the proposed institution would require sustainable funding, adequate infrastructure and efficient administration to fulfil its mandate.
Mustapha said Nigeria needed universities capable of converting research findings into industrial applications, reducing dependence on imported technologies and equipping young people with skills to compete internationally.
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He identified clean energy, environmental protection, agriculture and fisheries as areas in which the proposed university could support development in the Niger Delta.
However, he warned that efforts to widen access to university education must be matched by academic standards, sufficient funding and long-term institutional sustainability.
In his remarks, Dandutse said the public hearing offered stakeholders an opportunity to contribute to the proposed law and help shape the institution’s development.
He said the committee would scrutinise the university’s proposed governance framework, funding model, academic programmes, staffing requirements and infrastructure, alongside its compliance with existing legislation on tertiary education.
The bill’s sponsor, Senator Benson Konbowei, said the institution would help bridge the shortage of skilled personnel in science, technology and other specialised disciplines.
He stressed that developing domestic expertise was essential to reducing Nigeria’s dependence on foreign sources for critical technological and industrial manpower.
Also speaking, the Bayelsa State Governor’s Technical Adviser, Mr Timidi Wariowei, said existing facilities in Korokorosei, located in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, could provide a foundation for the proposed university.
He listed school buildings, a health facility, hotels and a landing jetty among the available infrastructure, noting that ongoing road construction towards the community would improve access.
Wariowei added that the Bayelsa State Government had established technical colleges across its eight local government areas to strengthen practical training in science and technology.
He expressed hope that the proposed university would offer graduates of the colleges opportunities to pursue advanced studies and acquire specialised skills.
The Senate committee is expected to evaluate the submissions received during the hearing as it considers the proposed institution’s feasibility and long-term sustainability.
