The Nigerian Senate has passed for second reading a bill seeking to convert Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) into a full-fledged university, marking a significant step toward expanding the country’s technical education capacity.
Titled “A Bill for an Act to Establish the Yaba Federal University of Technology and Vocational Studies”, the proposed legislation seeks to elevate YABATECH’s status and align its operations with global standards in technological and vocational education.
The bill, sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, was debated and subsequently referred to the Committee on Tertiary Education and TETFUND for further scrutiny, with a report expected in four weeks.
Bamidele noted that the conversion had already received presidential assent, and formal legislation would provide a legal framework for the transition. He said the upgrade would motivate staff and students, enhance infrastructure, and expand the institution’s academic scope.
“This transformation is essential for producing the kind of skilled manpower Nigeria needs to meet modern technological and industrial demands,” he said, stressing the university’s potential to rival top institutions like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
The new university, once established, will retain all assets and staff of YABATECH, ensuring continuity in administration. It will also have the authority to set up campuses, faculties, and research centers subject to approval from the National Universities Commission (NUC).
