The Federal College of Education in Obudu, Cross River State, is a step closer to becoming a federal university following the Senate’s passage of a bill seeking to upgrade the institution and expand opportunities for teacher education.
The bill was passed on Thursday after the Senate considered and adopted the report of its Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND, bringing the proposed Federal University of Education, Obudu, closer to realisation.
Sponsored by Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, representing Cross River North Senatorial District, the legislation seeks to transform the existing federal college into a specialised university dedicated to teacher education.
Presenting the committee’s report, its chairman, Senator Muntari Dandutse, representing Katsina South, said the proposed institution would widen access to higher education and help address Nigeria’s demand for qualified teachers.
Dandutse disclosed that the committee had conducted a public hearing on the bill in May 2025, during which stakeholders expressed support for the proposed university.
For Obudu, the proposed upgrade offers an opportunity to build on existing educational infrastructure and human resources rather than begin the establishment of an entirely new institution from scratch.
Jarigbe said the initiative was designed to leverage the facilities and personnel of the existing Federal College of Education to expand access to university-level learning and create more opportunities for prospective students.
He added that the institution would promote access to education without discrimination based on race, creed, sex or political conviction.
The senator urged stakeholders and indigenes of Cross River North to sustain their support for the initiative, stressing that the next major step would be securing presidential assent to the bill.
Expressing confidence in President Bola Tinubu’s understanding of the proposal’s importance, Jarigbe said he expected the President to support the initiative.
Although the Senate’s passage represents a significant legislative milestone, the proposed university is not yet fully established. The bill must receive presidential assent before the proposed institution can proceed towards formal establishment under the law.
If enacted, the legislation could strengthen Obudu’s position as a centre for teacher education while expanding opportunities for students seeking specialised university training in education.
The development also places attention on the next stage of the process: translating legislative approval into a legally established institution capable of delivering the intended academic and educational benefits.
