Sen. Ahmed Lawan, the former president of the 9th Senate and lawmaker representing Yobe North Senatorial District, has handed over a newly-constructed Federal Science and Technical College, Gashua, to the Yobe government.

Ezrel Tabiowo, media adviser to Mr Lawan in a statement in Abuja on Sunday, said that Mr Lawan facilitated the establishment and construction of the college while in office as Senate President between 2019 and 2023.

Mr Tabiowo said that the Yobe government was expected to hand over the institution in turn to the federal government through the federal ministry of education.

He said the college had several ultra-modern facilities to provide students, teachers and administrative staff with the required learning and work environment.

Among the facilities in the new school, according to Mr Tabiowo, include an administrative block, staff offices, two blocks of offices, a library, 500-capacity auditorium and laboratory complex

Others are a clinic, five blocks of female hostels, five blocks of male hostels, sports complex with offices, three twin-blocks of classes.

Mr Tabiowo also listed one block of classes, workshop complex, ICT centre, seven solar-powered boreholes, gate house and perimeter fence as other facilities.

Mr Tabiowo also reported Mr Lawan to have said that the school was a landmark institution that would provide limitless opportunities in the coming years for youths across the country.

“The FSTC was among the 16 technical colleges approved by the Federal Ministry of Education in 2022; we are witnessing a landmark development in this part of Nigeria.

“It is a Federal Government educational institution, approved by the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Federal Ministry of Education last year, and constructed by various institutions of the Federal Government and the North East Development Commission (NEDC).

“This institution is ready to enroll its first set of students and then assume academic activities by the grace of God, hopefully, this year.

“We consider this as a very important development for us because it is going to provide limitless opportunities for our youths who will be educated here for many years to come,” Mr Lawan said.

Mr Lawan thanked the Emir of Bade, Abubakar Umar Suleiman, for providing the land upon which the institution was built.

Permanent Secretary of Yobe Ministry for Basic and Primary Education, Hamisu Alhaji, who represented the commissioner, showered Mr Lawan with praises for his commitment to the development of education in Yobe State.

He called on the Federal Ministry of Education to ensure immediate take-off of the college in the 2023/2024 academic session.

“The establishment of this school is a major milestone in the development of science and technology in Yobe state.”

“This giant stride by the distinguished Senator Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, did not come as a surprise, considering his numerous development projects in the state and country at large.

“This will complement the efforts of the Executive Governor, not only in the area of science and technology education, but the development of education in the state in general,” he said.

The permanent secretary said that over the years, the Yobe State Government, through the Science and Technical Schools Board, has spent millions of naira every term on transportation of students to Federal Science and Technical Colleges across the country, such as FSTC Orozo, Shiroro, Jalingo, Otukpo, Daya, amongst others.

He said the establishment of the school would increase the chances of Yobe students to study science and technology courses, to enable them to measure up with global trends.

(NAN)