Senate: Bill to transform YabaTech into university scales second reading

The Senate has passed the second reading of a bill seeking to transform Yaba College of Technology (YabaTech) into the Yaba Federal University of Technology and Vocational Studies.

The bill, titled “Bill for an Act to provide for the Establishment of the Yaba Federal University of Technology and Vocational Studies Yaba, Lagos State and to make comprehensive provisions for its due management and administration and for other related matters, 2025 (SB. 738),” was debated and referred to the Senate Committee on Tertiary Education and TETFUND for further legislative action. The committee is expected to report back in four weeks.

Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano North), presided over the plenary session where the bill scaled through its second reading.

Leading the debate on the general principles of the proposed legislation, Senate Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), explained the broader intent behind the upgrade of YabaTech into a full-fledged university.

Bamidele said, “This Bill seeks to establish Yaba Federal University of Technology and Vocational Studies, Yaba, Lagos State. The Bill was read the first time in this Hallowed Chamber on Tuesday, 11th March, 2025.

“The Bill essentially seeks to transform and upgrade the YabaTech to Yaba Federal University of Technology and Vocational Studies, Yaba, Lagos State, which has already been done via a presidential fiat. Nigeria’s steady march towards education for all in the shortest possible time has taken a giant leap with the introduction of this Bill for an Act to provide for the establishment of this university.”

The Senate leader emphasized the strategic importance of the transformation in enhancing academic standards and boosting morale across the institution.

“I am personally excited by the prospect of transforming this Polytechnic to a University of Technology and Vocational Studies, as it will motivate both students and academic staff, just as it will upgrade its facilities and enhance its capability to achieve its objectives,” Bamidele said.

He added that the upgraded institution would be inclusive and committed to providing broad-based education to all Nigerians.

“Similarly, The New University will encourage the advancement of learning and hold out to all persons without distinction of race, creed, sex or political conviction the opportunity of acquiring a higher and liberal education. It will also do the following: Provide courses of instruction and other facilities for the pursuit of learning in all its branches, and to make those facilities available on proper terms to such persons as are equipped to benefit from them; Encourage and promote scholarship and conduct research in all fields of learning with emphasis on technical education.”

Bamidele also linked the bill to Nigeria’s broader economic aspirations, noting that educational institutions must evolve to meet future global challenges.

“Our educational authorities are moving to revamp our institutions to meet these objectives. Yaba Federal University of Technology and Vocational Studies, when enacted by the National Assembly will have power to establish such campuses, colleges, faculties, institutes, schools, extra-mural departments and other teaching and research units within the University as may from time to time seem necessary or desirable subject to the approval of the National Universities Commission,” he said.

He also noted that the transition would preserve institutional legacy and personnel continuity.

“To ensure continuity in the administration of the university, all property held by or on behalf of the Yaba Polytechnic shall be vested in the University and be held by it for the purposes of the University. Notably, all staff of the Polytechnic are hereby transferred to the university, and previous service in the Polytechnic shall count as service for the purposes of any pension payable by the university.”

Assuring the Senate of the institution’s preparedness for the transformation, Bamidele concluded:

“The institution is prepared to undertake the educational and other modifications that are a natural corollary of transforming to a university. The institution is also prepared to remain true to its core mandate of producing well-trained manpower capable of driving the technological, management, and business goals of the nation. In this regard, it will seek to emulate the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), which has built upon a tradition of distinction to become one of the world’s foremost educational institutions.”

The Senate leader pledged full support for the bill’s passage into law.

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