Bill for establishment of federal college of geological, cement studies in Ogun scales second reading in Senate
By Kolawole Olayinka, Abeokuta
The Federal College of Geological and Cement Studies, Yewa North LGA, Ogun State bill sponsored by Senator Solomon Adeola (APC, Ogun West) has passed second reading in the Senate following extensive debate of it merits and a majority vote in favour by all senators across party lines.
According to Kayode Odunaro, Media Adviser to Senator Adeola, the bill was read for the first time on the floor of the senate on October 5, 2023 inches closer to making the establishment of the college in Ogun State a reality.
Leading the debate on the general principles of the bill, Senator Adeola stated the college will be the first of its kind in Nigeria to assist in training middle level skilled workers for the numerous cement industries already operating in Ogun West Senatorial District like Dangote Cement, Larfarge and BUA Cement.
He added that it was advantageous for Nigeria to have local skilled manpower for backward integration and local content policy geared towards its economic growth and national development.
The Senator stated that with dwindling petro-dollars and the conscious move to diversify Nigerian economy into the moribund solid mineral sector, it will be a good initiative to have an institution for the training of skilled personnel in an area with massive deposit of limestones and existing industries.
He stressed that the community where the college would be situated is a border community and the college will facilitate desired development of the border community.
The passage of the bill for second reading was supported by Senators Suleiman Umar Sadiq(APC, Kwara), Adebule Idiat Oluranti (APC, Lagos West), Adams Oshiomhole(APC, Edo), Isah Jubrin (APC, Kogi East), Ned Woko (PDP, Delta), Seriake Dickson(PDP, Bayelsa), Olugbenga Daniel (APC, Ogun Central), Oyewunmi Olalere(PDP, Osun) and Francis Fadahunsi (PDP, Osun) among others.
The president of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio commended the sponsor of the bill, adding that all avenues for human resources development and border communities’ development should be encouraged.
The bill was committed to the Senate Committee on Tertiary Education for further legislative action.
