Senate Passes Bill Establishing Steel University, Ajaokuta

After prolonged technical and painstaking considerations, the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has today passed the bill seeking the establishment of Steel University Ajaokuta, Kogi State.

The bill which was sponsored by the Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Senator Yakubu Oseni was summarily meant to inaugurate a specialized University which will bridge the intractable intellectual and manpower gaps in steel sector and complement government's efforts to breakaway from decades of monolithic and crude-oil centred economy.

Approval for establishment of the specialized university followed considerations and reports of Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) today at the hallowed chamber of the Senate during plenary.

Senator Oseni while fielding questions from newsmen shortly after the plenary argued that technical-based and sustainable education is one of the potent ways Nigeria economy could be revived and set on the path of prosperity, adding that with purposeful education, issues of insecurity and other social vices plaguing the country will be reduced drastically.

"The bill has journeyed through various rigorous legislative scrutiny and has been subjected to public hearing where we got positive nods. Then, after reports from relevant committees and stakeholders in the steel industry where the need to have the specialized steel university was stressed, my distinguished colleagues unequivocally approved its establishment. This also underscores the readiness of the 9th Senate to liberate, enlighten and refine Nigerians through education.

"All I need from my constituents is to deepen their prayers so we can live long in sound health to partake of the numerous benefits of this project. As I always reassure you, I will never play politics with project of this magnitude that has the potential of redeeming our economy in general. The concomitant benefits of the bill is beyond just steel university", he said.

Steel University Ajaokuta, the lawmaker stressed further, will be a fertile ground for incubation of ideas, skills and 21st century technology for eventual resuscitation of the Ajaokuta Steel Complex which Governor Yahaya Bello and President Muhammadu Buhari are very passionate about.

The lawmaker deeply appreciated people of goodwill especially his constituents, Kogi State government, stakeholders in the steel industry and others who were genuinely concerned about the success of the bill.

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