Godswill Akpabio, the senate president, has called for increased investment in human capital, describing it as essential to Nigeria’s development trajectory.
Akpabio made the call on Monday in Abuja during a public hearing organised by the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund.
Akpabio noted that the country is at a crucial point in its growth and must act decisively to equip its population with the right skills and education.
“Our population continues to grow, and so must our investments in human capital,” he said.
The committee chaired by Senator Muntari Dandutse, focused on six proposed bills to establish or amend federal universities across the country.
These include the Federal University of Education (Special), Oyo; the Federal University of Health Sciences, Funtua, Katsina State; the Federal University of Technology, Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom; and others focused on vocational, technological, and geospatial studies.
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Akpabio stressed the importance of specialised institutions in building a capable workforce.
“Universities of technology, health sciences, education, and vocational studies are instrumental in preparing a workforce that is capable of driving innovation and delivering essential services,” he said, adding that such investments are key to “transforming the nation’s economic fortunes.”
He also highlighted the need for tailored governance and funding strategies for the proposed institutions, stating that they must be “effectively governed, adequately funded, and responsive to the needs of 21st-century learners.”
Senator Dandutse, who sponsored the Federal University of Health Sciences, Funtua bill, underscored the impact of global technological advancements on the medical profession.
He pointed out that the integration of artificial intelligence and robotics in healthcare was gradually reducing the role of conventional medical practitioners.
“This will, no doubt, give rise to job losses in the near future,” Dandutse warned, urging swift policy adaptation to keep pace with global trends. “It is imperative that urgent and necessary steps are taken for Nigeria to align with these global phenomena,” he said.
Senator Yunus Akintunde (APC–Oyo), who is behind the bills for the Federal University of Education (Special), Oyo, and the Federal University of Geomatics, Oyo, said both proposals were essentially upgrades of existing institutions.
He argued that the Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo; the only one of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa, should be elevated to university status to better serve individuals with disabilities.
“There is an unbridled quest for special needs education in Nigeria,” Akintunde said, adding that the proposed university will help “continuously produce well-qualified and trained teachers as is obtainable in other developed countries.”
He further stated that the bill’s passage would address the challenges faced by students with disabilities in mainstream institutions and align with the current administration’s commitment to funding education as a critical pillar of national development.
