NATIONAL ASSEMBLY APPROVES THE BILL TO ESTABLISH THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR BORDER STUDIES, IMEKO, OGUN STATE, SPONSORED BY SEN. TOLU ODEBIYI
The Bill for an Act for the establishment of the National Institute for Border Studies, Imeko, Ogun State, to provide for teaching, research, instruction and training of students in border management and for other matters connected therewith, (SB. 266) 2020, sponsored by the Senator representing Ogun West Senatorial District, Sen. Tolu Odebiyi has been approved by both Chambers of the National Assembly.
The development followed the concurrence of the House of Representatives to the Senate Bill on the proposed National Institute which was earlier passed at the Red Chamber.
The Bill received the blessings of all the members of the National Assembly after going through the whole hog of legislative scrutiny with its 3rd reading passage yesterday, Tuesday 25th January, 2022 at the House of Representatives where it was sent to for concurrence by the Senate in 2021, for the benefit of Nigerians in general.
Recall that a public hearing on this novel Bill was conducted at the Senate complex on the 26th of April, 2021 where public policy experts, Professors, opinion leaders and Royal fathers from Ogun West Senatorial District made submissions in favour of the Bill that will pave the way for the creation of the first Border Institute in Africa.
The highlights of the Bill are:
-The Institute is positioned amongst other things to:
(a) teach, research, instruct and train students in both full-time and part-time courses in:
(i) Migration, Refugee, Trans-Border Management, Border Security including other areas of Governance, Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities;
(ii) develop and conduct courses for training of students, as well as teachers in the teaching profession;
(iii) expand the horizon for indigenous research and provide the basis for cooperation, partnership and collaboration with relevant institutions, researchers and stakeholders in Nigeria and beyond
-The Institute is proposed to be a degree awarding Institution, with the power to admit students and award degrees upon the completion of their statutory academic years and after satisfying the requirement of the Council.
-The Institute is within the statutory supervision of the Nigeria University Commission (NUC) and the Ministry of Education represented by the Minister who acts in the stead of the President as the visitor to the Institute.
The Bill, according to the sponsor, Senator Odebiyi is for the good of Nigerians as the people are yearning for thorough border management, security and control.
Signed:
SEN. TOLU ODEBIYI
Media Office
