A bill to establish the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Federal University of Nigerian Languages has scaled first reading in the House of Representatives
The university when established will run courses in Nigerian languages.
The Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, Inuwa Garba, Nasiru Shehu, Alex Ikwechegh, Bako Useni, Amobi Ogah, Akin Rotimi, Halims Abdullahi, and Felix Nwaeke sponsored the bill.
The university is to be sited in Aba, Abia state, to promote the study and use of Nigerian languages and culture for national development.
The university will offer professional programmes in diplomas, degrees, and postgraduate research with a focus on Nigerian languages and cultures.
When operational, the institution will also focus on practical skills in Nigerian languages and cultures to foster national development.
Section II, Part I of the bill showed that the university will “encourage the advancement of learning and provide opportunities for all individuals, regardless of race, creed, sex, or political beliefs, to acquire higher education in Nigerian languages and cultures.”
Section 14(2) of the bill states that the president will be the “visitor” of the university.
“The Visitor shall as often as the circumstances may require, not being less than once every five years, conduct a visitation of the University or direct that such a visitation be conducted by such person or persons as the Visitor may deem fit and in respect of any of the affairs of the University,” the bill states.
The bill will need to pass a second reading, public hearing, third reading, and Senate concurrence before it is sent to the president for assent.
