25th March, 2021
By EricJames Ochigbo
Bill for an Act to establish Federal College of Education, Bende in Abia has passed second reading in the House of Representatives.
The bill which seeks to provide full-time courses, training in technology, applied sciences, commerce, social sciences, arts and humanities among others was sponsored by Rep. Benjamin Kalu (APC-Abia) at plenary on Thursday.
PM NEWS recalls that the bill was read the first time in the hallowed chamber on Wednesday, June 10, 2020.
Leading the debate, Kalu said that the importance of education in society cannot be overemphasised saying that education is important for a happy and stable life, for better income and livelihood and for social equality.
According to him, education makes a person self-dependent, turns dreams into reality and makes the world a better and safer place.
On the location, Kalu said Bende Local Government Area of Abia is the single oldest and largest Local Government Area in the South-East geo-political zone.
“Bende has remained undivided since its creation in 1976, even though with the size of four Local Government Areas as found in comparative federal constituencies.
“Despite its strategic location in Abia and sharing a border with Akwa Ibom, with a growing population and landmass, there is no tertiary institution in the Federal Constituency operated either by Federal or State Government.
“Bende deserves to have the presence of a tertiary institution to serve the education need of the teeming youthful population, especially now that the need for well-trained educationists has risen.
“This is accompanied by the need to fill the gaps created by both the consequences of brain drain and the lack of qualified educationists to provide quality training at all levels of education,” he said.
In his ruling, the Speaker of the house, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila referred the bill to House Committee on Tertiary Education for further legislative actions.