Senate passes Bill for creation of Medical ,Health Sciences Varsity in Ekiti
…….Citizens lauds Senator Bamidele
By Oyeola Olusola, IIJ
A bill for the establishment of the Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences in Ekiti State, has been passed by the Senator Ahmad Lawan -led nineth Senate and now awaiting presidential assent.
The bill , sponsored by Senator representing Ekiti Central, Opeyemi Bamidele scaled the third reading in the Senate on the 15th September, 2021, and had on the 24th February and 16th March, 2021 scaled first and second readings, respectively.
This bill was passed following the clause by clause consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on Health (Primary and Secondary), chaired by Senator Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe (APC, Kwara Central).
While debating the bill at its plennary, the passage was overwhelmingly supported by senators across party lines.
The lawmaker representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District is among the top three senators by ranking in bills’ presentation on the floor of the Senate and had to his credit the following bills:
- Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (Alteration) Bill, 2019 (SB.247).
- Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (Alteration) Bill, 2019 (SB.253).
- Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (Alteration) Bill, 2019 (SB.259).
- Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (Alteration) Bill, 2019 (SB.260).
- Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (Alteration) Bill, 2019 (SB.261).
- Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (Alteration) Bill, 2020 (SB.306).
- Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (Alteration) Bill, 2020 (SB.307).
- FCT Customary Court Act 2007 (Amendment) Bill, 2020 (SB.315).
- Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2011 (Amendment) Bill, 2020 (SB.414).
- Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (Alteration) Bill, 2020 (SB.418).
- Tertiary Education Trust Fund (Est, etc) Bill 2020 (SB.428).
- Federal University, Oye Ekiti (Amendment) Bill 2020 (SB.442).
- Family Support Trust Fund Act (Repeal) Bill 2020 (SB.537).
- Federal Saving Banks Act (Repeal) Bill 2020 (SB.538).
Justifying the passage of the bill, Senator Bamidele, said the establishment of the university would provide basic scientific training as a foundation for the development of medicine and allied disciplines.
According to the lawmaker; “the enactment of this bill will help in transforming the health and educational endowed in Nigeria in producing the desired medical manpower and expertise that Nigeria is yearning for.
“Mr. President, Distinguished Colleagues, our health has very high potential, and requires high level technical, scientific and administrative skills to drive it, therefore, the university is to further advance knowledge through research and nurture unique innovations in the health sector.
“The objective of the university as articulated above are supportive of its mission and broad-vision of a modern institution that will develop world-class medical personnel that can sustainably manage our nation’s health sector by providing medical expertise at the highest level”.
Bamidele disclosed that the Ekiti State government was willing and ready to provide over 1000 acres of land in support of the establishment of the institution.
“To Iyin Ekiti indigenes both at home and abroad, the university would open the economic and environmental potentials of the town and expand the scope of scholarship in the field of medicine”.
A community leader in Iyin Ekiti and Oisangan of Iyin Ekiti, Chief Olaposi Omodara, said the town is fully prepared for the university to be established and he called on President Muhammadu Buhari to swiftly assent to it.
He said, “we are very happy about the establishment of the university in our community and we have all it takes to accommodate the university in this town”.
In her contributions, the Accounting Officer and Administrator of Eyemote Comprehensive High School, Iyin Ekiti ………..name, said establishment of the university of medical science in Iyin Ekiti is going to be a great benefit to the community and also to the state.
She said: “the university is going to increase the scope of learning and boost the economic power of the community.
“The institution is going to bring more development to the community as more students are expected to fall in from other states across the nation and as well from other neighboring country.
“There are over 200 secondary schools in the state and I those schools various subjects are offered most especially sciences. So Ekiti State has enough students to attend the institution and enough manpower are on ground to take courses according to NUC rules”.
She thanked and appreciate Sen. Bamidele for his contribution so far in the 9th National Assembly and for providing necessary support and assistance to community.
She described the Senator , who is also the Chairman, Southern Senators Forum has been described as a “deligent citizen, dedicated son of the soil, a promise keeper, omoluabi of our time, a dogged politician and a moral agent for positive change”.
