The Nigerian Senate is currently deliberating on a bill seeking to upgrade the Kogi State College of Education in Ankpa into a full-fledged Federal University of Education.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Jibrin Isah, who represents Kogi East, aims to boost teacher education, professional training, and curriculum innovation in Nigeria’s educational system.
“Among the various educational institutions through which the nation hopes to achieve its developmental goals, specialised universities of education should take preeminence because they are set up to train the trainers,” Senator Isah stated during the bill’s lead debate on Tuesday.
He explained that the college, which already offers degree programmes in affiliation with six Nigerian universities, has a strong academic foundation that would ease its transformation into a university without a heavy financial burden.
Quoting the National Policy on Education (1981), the senator described education as “the greatest investment that a nation can make for the quick development of its economic, political, and social systems.”
The bill is in compliance with Order 76(3) of the Senate Standing Rules (2023 as amended), which permits legislative upgrades of institutions where foundational infrastructure already exists.
Senator Diket Plang (Plateau Central) described the proposal as both “timely and progressive,” saying:
“We will not succeed if there is no technical place to improve the knowledge of teachers… this will improve the quality of teachers in our country.”
Senator Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central) added:
“It is a specialised university that will train teachers nationwide, not only in Kogi. When fully upgraded, it will certainly take care of teachers who want to be trained or retrained.”
Also lending support, Senator Anthony Ani (Ebonyi South) noted:
“It is not only timely, it is apt. Every institution requires good teachers to teach. This university will help in addressing the issue of shortage of teachers.”
Senator Isah urged his colleagues to support the bill, emphasizing its importance in meeting the rising demand for qualified educators while also enhancing educational access across the North-Central region.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio praised the bill’s sponsor and referred it to the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund for further legislative action. The committee is expected to report back within six weeks.