A bill seeking to establish the Federal University of Science and Technology, Epe, Lagos, has passed a second reading in the Senate.

This followed the presentation of the lead debate at the plenary on Tuesday by the sponsor and Senate leader, Opeyemi Bamidele.

The senator said the new university is designed to produce highly skilled graduates to drive the country’s innovation and economic growth.

Mr Bamidele, representing Ekiti Central, said when finally established, the university would provide top-notch education in various fields of science and technology that would drive the country’s digital economy.

He said the university would offer a wide range of undergraduate programmes in fields such as mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer engineering, civil engineering, and computer science, among others.

Mr Bamidele also said the proposed university “has a mission of producing highly skilled graduates, who will drive innovation and economic growth in Nigeria.

“This is the fundamental justification for the establishment of this specialised institution of higher learning, Federal University of Science and Technology, Epe, Lagos.”

Supporting the debate, Senate deputy leader Oyelola Ashiru noted that Epe symbolised new Lagos, gradually emerging as the country’s fast-growing hub of economic and industrial complex.

With the rising profile of the host community, Mr Ashiru urged the upper chamber to unanimously approve the creation of the university for the advancement of the community and Nigeria as a whole.

Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, who presided over the plenary, referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and Tetfund to report back to the plenary within four weeks.

(NAN)