Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba
By Kenneth Orusi
ABUJA/Nigeria: In a transformative legislative initiative aimed at boosting technological education in the South-South region, the Nigerian Senate will on Wednesday, May 28, hold a public hearing on a bill to upgrade the Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba to a full-fledged Federal University of Technology.
The hearing, which will take place at 2:00 p.m. in Senate Conference Room 022 at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja, is expected to attract a diverse range of stakeholders. Representatives from student unions, academic institutions, traditional rulers, civil society organizations, and youth groups are slated to attend and lend their voices to the deliberations.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Ned Munir Nwoko (Delta North), seeks to elevate the status of the college and reposition it as a hub for innovation, technical expertise, and advanced learning in the Niger Delta and beyond. Senator Nwoko described the proposal as “a bold step toward national development, youth empowerment, and equitable access to education.”
“This is not just a legislative process,” he said, “it is a generational opportunity to reimagine education in Delta North and across the South-South.”
The bill has been lauded by education reform advocates for its potential to bridge the gap between technical education and employable skills in Nigeria’s evolving job market. Sources familiar with the legislation disclosed that provisions for infrastructure development, staffing, and funding have been integrated to ensure the institution hits the ground running.
Public participation is open, and memoranda are being accepted by the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund. Stakeholders are encouraged to submit their contributions ahead of the hearing to help shape the final content of the bill.
If passed, the upgrade would not only expand access to quality technological education in Delta State but could also inspire similar reforms across the country. Observers say the initiative marks a pivotal moment for education policy in Nigeria, particularly in regions historically underserved by federal technical institutions.
