Cross River youths resident in Abuja have appealed for urgent Presidential assent to the Federal University of Technology, Ogoja (FUTOG) Bill passed by the National Assembly.
Mr Mike Udam, Team Leader of Greater Ogoja Development Initiative who made the appeal on Friday at a rally urged President Muhammadu Buhari to assent to the establishment.
Udam, represented by Mr Slater Udam, a co-convener, said the youths gathered to bring to the President’s notice the FUTOG bill, passed by the 8th National Assembly.
ALSO READ:Â BREAKING: Catholic priests protest in Enugu over alleged killing of colleague by herdsmen
Udam commended Mr Jarigbe Agom, a member of Parliament and former Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Tertiary Education and Services, for the magnanimous ventilation of the needs and aspirations of his Ogoja/Yala constituents.
He said Agom’s action found expression in the sponsored bill for an Act to Provide for the Establishment of the Federal University of Technology, Ogoja and Related Matters (HB. 1293).
He said the bill is historical to the peace-loving people of Ogoja whom he said are desirous of accessing quality education as clamoured by the Federal Government.
“Mr President, the people of the northern fringes of the Ogoja Province, presently configured into Bekwarra, Obanliku, Obudu, Ogoja, and Yala Local Government Areas have resolved that the FUTOG be established in Ogoja.
“Therefore, Ogoja people are compelled to request the establishment of a university of technology given the Federal Government’s well-intentioned disposition for the development of science and technology in the country.
“Ogoja was promised a university as early as 1975 but was shortchanged on the grounds of a minor disagreement between communities,’’ he said.
Udam added that Ogoja has come of age to ask for what is rightly theirs and ready to support the Federal Government to make the establishment of FUTOG a reality.
He said that Ogoja is blessed with heavyweights in the academia who are willing to relocate to give the university a smooth take off.
“We can boast of 12 professors in the field of Science and Technology presently offering their services across the country.
“We have about 23 associate professors in engineering and allied courses that are ready to come home and develop the university; we are indeed ready,’’ he said.
Udam, therefore, enjoined Mr President to grant the request of Ogoja people by giving assent to the bill, based on the above reasons.
and then