BY AUSTIN OYIBODE
In a pivotal development for educational advancement in Nigeria’s South-South region, Senator Ned Nwoko, representing Delta North Senatorial District, spearheaded a successful public hearing on Wednesday for his legislative bill aimed at transforming the Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba, into the Federal University of Technology, Asaba.
The hearing, convened by the Senate Committee on TETFund and Tertiary Institutions, attracted robust participation from a wide array of stakeholders, including education experts, community leaders, and constituents from Delta State and beyond.
Their presence signaled overwhelming support for the proposed institutional upgrade.
Addressing attendees at the National Assembly, Senator Nwoko underscored the broader significance of the bill beyond a mere institutional renaming.
“This upgrade is not just a name change, it represents expanded opportunity, innovation, employment, and a renewed future for science and technology education in Delta State and across the region,” he stated.
He further emphasized the South-South region’s long-standing need for a Federal University of Technology and expressed confidence that the bill’s passage would fill a critical gap in Nigeria’s higher education landscape.
Senator Nwoko extended heartfelt appreciation to the Senate Committee for its diligence and professionalism, and to the constituents whose passionate engagement, he said, had been instrumental in propelling the initiative forward.
According to the senator, the proposed transformation is expected to deliver wide-ranging benefits, including improved access to quality tertiary education, enhanced technical and scientific training, and a positive impact on the region’s socio-economic development.
If enacted, the legislation would establish the first Federal University of Technology in the South-South geopolitical zone, marking a historic milestone in the decentralization and expansion of Nigeria’s technological education infrastructure.
“The journey is far from over,” Nwoko concluded. “But today, we took a meaningful step forward, together.”