By Abasi Ita
The Nigerian Senate has passed a bill seeking to establish the Federal University of Technology, Odukpani, in Cross River State.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, representing Cross River South, was approved during plenary on Thursday after scaling its third and final reading.
Presiding over the session was Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who announced the passage of the bill, marking a major legislative breakthrough for the people of Cross River, especially the Southern Senatorial District.
Reacting to the development, Senator Ekpenyong expressed gratitude to his colleagues for their overwhelming support, describing the bill as a long-overdue intervention that would significantly improve access to quality tertiary education in the state.
“With the eventual assent of this bill by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Cross River State will finally bridge a gap that has existed for over fifty years in the establishment of a federal university,” he stated.
The proposed university will focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines to meet the growing demand for technical education across the country.
In addition to its academic goals, the institution is expected to stimulate long-term economic growth in Odukpani Local Government Area, a community rich in human and natural resources but historically left behind in development despite its proximity to Calabar, the state capital.
“This university will complement the ongoing efforts of the state government to open up Odukpani as a centre of opportunity. It will serve not only as a centre of learning but as a strategic driver of local industry, skills development, and innovation,” Senator Ekpenyong added.
The bill now awaits presidential assent to become law.
Once established, the Federal University of Technology, Odukpani will be the first of its kind in the state, expected to attract investments, create employment, and boost infrastructure in the host community and surrounding areas.