By Ngozi Nwoke
A Bill on Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri (Establishment) Bill, 2024 has passed a second reading on the floor of the Senate.
Sen. Ezenwa Onyewuchi, (Imo East), who presented the Bill, said it will give the institution a legal backing and a permanent status as a Federal University of Education.
The Senator stressed that the Bill aims at avoiding a situation where contrary pronouncements on the status of the University would be made, like the reversal witnessed under President Muhammadu Buhari, which wouldn’t have happened if only the enabling law was in place.
He highlighted the many benefits of the Bill to include increased funding, promotion of specialization and expertise, as well as economic opportunities of employment and attraction of businesses.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu had on October 20, 2023, announced the upgrade of the institution to a full fledged university.