The Senate has stressed the need for sustainable funding, adequate infrastructure and effective administration in the proposed establishment of the Federal University of Science and Technology, Korokorosei, in Bayelsa State.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio stated this at a public hearing on the bill seeking to establish the institution in Korokorosei, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.
Akpabio, represented by Senator Ibrahim Mustapha, warned that expanding access to university education must be accompanied by adequate funding, quality infrastructure, academic excellence and long-term sustainability.
He said Nigeria needed institutions capable of translating research into industrial production, reducing dependence on imported technologies and equipping young people with the skills required to compete in the global economy.
According to him, human potential remains the Niger Delta’s greatest resource, while the proposed university could contribute to addressing environmental challenges and developing practical solutions for the region’s riverine communities.
He noted that the institution could promote research and innovation in cleaner energy, environmental protection, agriculture and fisheries, while producing graduates capable of contributing meaningfully to national development.
The Senate president, however, cautioned that increasing the number of universities should not be the sole objective of higher education policy.
He urged stakeholders to critically examine the proposed legislation and make recommendations that would assist the National Assembly in reaching an informed decision in the national interest.
The public hearing was organised by the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, chaired by Senator Muntari Dandutse (APC, Katsina South).
Konbowei seeks expanded access to university education
Senator Benson Friday Konbowei, representing Bayelsa Central Senatorial District, said the proposed university would help address the shortage of skilled manpower, particularly in science, technology and other specialised fields.
Konbowei argued that despite the growing number of tertiary institutions in the country, available admission spaces remained insufficient to accommodate the increasing number of young Nigerians seeking university education.
Citing statistics from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), he said only 1,009,044 candidates secured admission into tertiary institutions out of the 2,007,312 candidates who sat for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.
He questioned the fate of candidates who could not secure admission, describing the figures as evidence of the need to expand Nigeria’s higher education capacity.
“The question is: Where do we keep the 50 per cent left?” he asked, urging his colleagues to support the bill.
The senator said establishing the university would create more opportunities for young Nigerians to acquire specialised knowledge and technical skills needed for national development.
He added that the institution would promote economic empowerment, self-reliance and productive engagement among young people, while helping to address unemployment and its associated social challenges.
Konbowei said locating the university in Korokorosei would particularly benefit Southern Ijaw and neighbouring communities, where access to educational opportunities remained limited.
He stressed, however, that the institution would admit qualified candidates from across the country rather than restrict its benefits to Bayelsa State.
The bill, titled A Bill for an Act to Establish the Federal University of Science and Technology, Korokorosei, Bayelsa State (SB. 483), was first read on the Senate floor on July 23, 2024, and passed for second reading on December 10, 2024.
Committee examines university’s viability
Earlier, Dandutse said the public hearing provided an inclusive platform for stakeholders to contribute to the proposed legislation.
He said the committee would scrutinise the institution’s proposed governance structure, funding arrangements, academic focus, staffing requirements, infrastructure needs and compliance with existing laws governing tertiary education.
According to him, particular attention would be paid to the university’s long-term viability to ensure that, if approved, it delivered meaningful benefits to students and the country.
Bayelsa identifies existing facilities
Also speaking at the hearing, Mr Timidi Wariowei, technical adviser to Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, said existing facilities in Korokorosei could support the establishment of the proposed university.
He listed a secondary school with several buildings, a health facility, hotels and a landing jetty among the available infrastructure in the riverine community.
Wariowei said road construction towards the community was ongoing, expressing optimism that improved accessibility would support the development of the institution.
He added that the Bayelsa State Government had established technical colleges across its eight local government areas to promote practical skills in science and technology.
According to him, the proposed university could provide graduates of the technical colleges with opportunities for further education, advanced training and specialised knowledge.
