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SENATE: Senator Ekong Sampson Presents Bill To Give Legal Backing to University of Technology, Ikot Abasi, Sets Up 100million Facility for University

…Onomkpoinam Mkpat Enin canvasses loan scheme for Nigerian students

ABUJA – A Bill seeking to provide legislative framework to support the establishment of the Federal University of Technology, Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State, sponsored by Senator Ekong Sampson, yesterday, passed First Reading in the Senate.

Titled, ‘Bill for An Act to Provide for the Establishment of the Federal University of Technology, Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State and For Related Matters’, the bill, among other things, will provide legal groundwork backing the university’s establishment.

Recall that former President, Muhammadu Buhari had in June 2021, announced the creation of the Federal University of Technology, Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State alongside Federal University, Dutse, in Jigawa State.

Leader of the Senate, Senator Michael Opeyemi announced Sampson’s Bill at plenary, which was then read out by Clerk of the Senate, Chinedu Akabueze.

Other Bills which also passed First Reading today included National Inland Waterways Authority Act (Amendment Bill) 2024, sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong (Cross River South), Nigerian Insurance Reform Bill, in the name of Senator Adetokunbo Abiru (Lagos East), among others.

Sponsor of the Bill, Senator Ekong Sampson said later that, when passed, the FUTIA Establishment Bill will engender legal foundation for the institution and pave the way for its administrative advancement and infrastructural growth.

Meanwhile, Senator Ekong Sampson, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Solid Minerals, has set up the construction of a 100million naira state-of-the-art hall facility at the Federal University of Technology, Ikot Abasi. The hall is aimed at upgrading the infrastructural base of the school and deepen learning experience among students and staff.

Senator Sampson, a well known lover and promoter of education, has equally set in motion, the construction of ICT/Computer-Based Test Centres in the three Federal Constituencies making up Akwa Ibom South. The centres will ease indigenes of the area, the stress of traveling long distances to write JAMB and other computer-based examinations.

The Akwa Ibom South Senator has also been pushing for the take-off of the Maritime University in Oron. Several other key intervention projects will be undertaken across Akwa Ibom South by Senator Ekong Sampson, through the instrumentality of the 2024 Budget.

Senator Sampson has also canvassed for a workable loan scheme for Nigerian students, to give them access to funding for their education and self development.

Senator Sampson stated this while contributing to the debate following consideration of ‘A Bill for an Act to Repeal the Students Loan (Access to Higher Education) Act 2023 and the Enact the Students Loan (Access to Higher Education) Act 2024, to Establish the Nigerian Educational Loan Fund’, – an Executive Bill, sponsored by Senator Opeyemi Michael Bamidele (Ekiti Central – Senate Leader).

Sampson recalled how he recently gave forms of support to indigenes of his senatorial district, with many of them being students and the feedback he has received so far, on how the grants helped them in educational pursuit and skills acquisition.

Senator Sampson was of the opinion that granting students access to funding will go a long way in improving their welfare and relieve many of them, the rigours of acquiring tertiary education in the country.

© Samuel Udoma