Stakeholders at a one-day Public Hearing on the establishment of the Federal University of Education (Technical), Bichi and the Federal University of Agriculture, Danbatta both in Kano state have supported the establishment of the Institutions.
The Bills were Sponsored by Senator Barau Jibrin, representing Kano North.
Senator Barau said the establishment of the Institutions will address the problems of out-of-school children and the shortage of teachers in schools.
According to him, the Federal University of Education (Technical), Bichi, is known for training Professionals.
“We have many private universities being established every year. So, there is a need to have a university in our area,” he said.
“You know we are lagging behind in terms of education. We need a university that will train teachers that will teach in these universities. That is very important.”
Describing Kano as not only the centre of commerce in the northern part of Nigeria but also the centre of agriculture, he said Kano was in poll position as the state with the largest farm produce market in the whole of West Africa.
“Since we are known for agriculture, we need a university that will train farmers (agriculturists),” he continued. “We are not asking for too much because the establishment of these universities is for the benefit of the entire nation.
On funding for the institutions, the Kano North senator said he was optimistic that their hard work has resulted in “non-oil revenues growing every year”.
On the issue of out-of-school children, particularly prevalent in the northern part of the country, Senator Barau said the establishment of the institutions is the “best way to fight the menace”.
The Kano State Governor, Umar Ganduje, represented by the Speaker, Kano State House of Assembly, Hamisu Ibrahim promised that the Government would provide “all that is needed” for the establishment of the two universities.
The Public Hearing was organised by the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND.
Reporting by Amaka Ene; Editing by Abdullahi Lamino and Tony Okerafor