JUST IN: Senate Adopts Orji Kalu’s bill to Establish Federal University in Abia

• By Kenneth Udeh, Abuja

The Senate on Wednesday accorded first reading to a bill seeking to establish a Federal University in Abia State.

The bill titled ;”A bill for an Act to provide for the establishment of Federal University of Medical sciences and Biomedical Technology, Umunna, Abia State and for Matters connected Therewith, 2022 . (SB. 985), is sponsored by the Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu.

The passage of the bill followed its presentation by the Deputy Leader of the Senate, Senator Ajayi Boroffice during plenary after it had resumed from the Sallah break.

Shortly after a short title of the bill was read to members of the Senate, the Senators in a voice vote presided by the President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan voted in favour of its passage. The bill was subsequently referred for second reading consideration.

Details of the bill reveal that part of the objectives to establish the Federal Medical University is to develop and offer academic and professional programs leading to the award of diplomas, first degrees, postgraduate research and higher degrees with emphasis on planning, adaptive, technical, maintenance, developmental and productive skills in the field of Medicine, biomedical engineering, scientific, and allied professional disciplines relating to health resources.

The bill has the aim of producing socially mature persons with capacity not only to understand, use and adapt existing technologies in the health industry, but also to improve on those disciplines and develop new ones, and to contribute to the scientific transformation of medical and other health practices in Nigeria.