Nathaniel Zaccheaus, Abuja
The Senate suspended its rules at yesterday’s plenary to pass a bill seeking the establishment of the Federal University of Agriculture and Tropical Studies, Iragbiji Osun State, for a second reading.
The Executive Bill was subjected to a legislative process by the Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele.
The fresh Bill was read on the floor of the Red Chamber for the first time yesterday, and the Senate leadership suspended the rules to accommodate it for a second reading.
In his lead debate on the Bill, Bamidele said the proposed institution is a bold step towards addressing the educational needs of the populace and serving as a training ground for the development of agriculturalists in the country.
He said, “Agriculture with its allied sectors is unquestionably the largest livelihood provider, especially in rural areas, and can contribute significantly to the GDP.”
According to him, the proposed university will provide holistic development of agriculture and Tropical Studies, knowledge skills, and a telescopic vision of the future to help them contribute to an accelerated agricultural growth rate, enhance farmers’ income, and generate employment in the sector.
He listed the objectives of establishing the university as including the advancement of learning and the opportunity for all persons without distinction of race, creed, sex, or political conviction to acquire tertiary education in Agriculture and tropical studies.
Bamidele said, “It will act as agents and catalysts through post-graduate training, research, and innovation for the effective and economic utilization, exploitation, and conservation of the country’s agriculture resources;
“It will offer to the general population, particularly in the area of Agriculture tropical studies as a form of public service, the results of training and research and to foster the practical applications of these results.
“It will identify the problems and needs of Nigeria’s agriculture sector and find solutions to them within the context of overall national development.
“It will provide and promote sound basic scientific training as a foundation for developing agriculture and tropical studies in Nigeria, considering indigenous cultures and the need to enhance national unity.
“One noticeable feature in the development of universities in Nigeria is the emergence of specialized universities. Most of these focus on science and technology; hence, the need to establish the Federal University of Agriculture and Tropical Studies, Iragbiji, Osun State, to increase the number of agricultural universities.
“This will help the federal government’s back-to-land policy ensure the diversification of our national economy. Agriculture is key, and the drivers of these are products from the agriculture universities. I therefore advocate for establishing more agriculture and tropical studies universities across the country,” he stressed.
The Senate, accordingly, for second reading and mandate after the lead debate d its Committee on Tertiary Education and TETFUND, to conduct aring and report back in two weeks.
