The Honourable Member representing Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency, Hon. Terseer Ugbor , made a compelling argument during the Public Hearing regarding the Bill for the Establishment of a Federal Polytechnic in Adikpo, asserting that in the interests of fairness and equity, Adikpo deserves a Federal Institution.
The public hearing was convened by the Committee on Federal Polytechnics and Higher Technical Education of the House of Representatives and was graced by notable figures, including the former Member of the House of Representatives for Kwande/Ushongo, Hon. Bob Tyough, along with remarkable academicians from the constituency.
Reflecting upon the inequity of insufficient Federal Institutions in Benue North-East, Hon. Ugbor stated “Chairman, Honorable Members, I would like to bring to your attention a glaring disparity in the educational landscape within our state Benue State despite our Local Government producing five Vice Chancellors who have served in the State and at National levels, the Benue North East Senatorial District, this is Zone A, where this proposed Polytechnic will be located, has seven Local Governments with a population of over 1 million people, without a single Federal Institution of higher learning, neither a Polytechnic, University or an Institution of learning of any kind”
“Chairman, the zone B, which is the Benue North-West, boasts of five higher institutions, including the Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, formerly the University of Agriculture, Federal Polytechnic Wannune, Benue State University Makurdi, Akperan Orshi Polytechnic Yandev and Akawe Torkula Polytechnic in Makurdi.”
“Zone C, which is the Benue South, has four institutions, including the Federal University of Health Sciences Otukpo, Federal College of Education Odugbo, College of Education Oju, and Benue Polytechnic Ugbokolo.
“The Benue North-East Zone A can only boast of a State College of Education in Katsina-Ala which is not sufficient to cover the educational needs of this entire zone.”
The Deputy Chairman Committee on Environment continued, “This disparity is not only unjust but also disadvantageous to the educational and economic development of our youths; it’s pertinent to state here that Kwande Local Government, where Adikpo is located, boasts of one among the highest numbers of secondary schools in Benue State.”
The Honourable Member is optimistic that the bill shall be passed and subsequently assented to by the President so that the extensive land generously donated for this purpose will no longer lie fallow but will be utilized effectively.
Dagu Fredrick
S.A Media and Publicity to Hon. Terseer Ugbor
