A bill for an act to establish the Federal Polytechnic in Onueke, Ezza LGA of Ebonyi, scaled second reading in the Senate on Wednesday.

This followed the presentation of the general principles of the bill by the sponsor, Kenneth Eze (APC-Ebonyi), at plenary on Wednesday.

Presenting the bill, Mr Eze said it was read first on August 1, 2023.

He said the school was an initiative that had the potential to advance human capital development and provide an assured future for youths in Nigeria and Ebonyi in particular.

He said that although education remained a cornerstone of any progressive society, there was still more work to be done to address the skill-based educational needs of underserved regions.

He said polytechnics were renowned for providing practical and skill-based education, specialising in technical disciplines, ICT and applied sciences.

“By establishing a Federal Polytechnic in Onueke, Ezza South LGA, Ebonyi State ensures that the youth of this region have access to quality technical education.”

He said the technical education would enable them to acquire the skills needed for technical competence and self-employment in an increasingly competitive labour market.

Contributing, Jimoh Ibrahim (APC-Ondo) urged the federal government to not only establish the school but also see to the establishment of federal polytechnics in all the senatorial districts to drive and ensure science and technology education in Nigeria.

Mr Ibrahim said the number of young people who finished secondary school annually in Nigeria was on the increase, hence the need to establish more polytechnics to prepare them for skill, science and technology-based education.

Victor Umeh (LP-Anambra) also supported the bill and called for efforts to ensure that the school focuses on the delivery of technical education, given the high number of youths in the state in search of technical and science education.

Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin (APC-Kano), who presided over the plenary, referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Education and Tertiary Institutions for further legislative input to return in two weeks.

(NAN)