The proposed move to ensure that the Ilaro Polytechnic is upgraded to a University has been further boosted in the Senate as the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan has directed the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institution to carry out further legislative action on the proposed legislation.
The bill was initially sponsored by Senator Solomon Adeola, Chairman of the Senate Community on Finance in the 8th Senate but it could not move pass the first reading stage before the expiry of the 9th National Assembly.
However the latest development comes as a result of the new bill which is jointly sponsored by Adeola and Senator Tolu Odebiyi who is the Ogun West Senatorial District.
Leading the debate for the second reading, Adeola said the imperative for the establishment of the university was informed mostly by the expansion and development of the polytechnic established some 38 years ago.
He said the institution has ample latitude for massive expansion in terms of space because it is located in a semi urban cum rural setting of Ilaro.
He said, “It is worthy of note that the Polytechnic has many infrastructural facilities, which many state owned and privately owned universities cannot boast of.
“Ironically those state and newly established federal universities have today been granted National University Commission Accreditation and are running courses as full-fledged universities” he argued.”
The second reading of the bill was not opposed by any Senator and was supported by Odebiyi and Senator Bamidele Opeyemi (Ekiti Central).