The Senator representing Southern Kaduna Senatorial Zone Honourable Sunday Marshall Katung’s Bill for Federal University of Applied Sciences Manchok has scales 2nd reading in the senate.
The Senate at plenary, Tuesday, passed for second reading a bill to establish the Federal University of Applied Sciences Manchok, Kaduna state.
The bill, which sought to establish the legal framework for the university, was sponsored by Senator Sunday Marshall Katung.
Katung, in his lead debate, said the bill was read for the first time on July 27, 2023.
He said the bill sought to establish the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Manchok and make comprehensive provisions for its due administration.
“My distinguished colleagues, science has been an integral part of mankind and existence from time immemorial.
“The knowledge that science gives us is what we classify as “Basic Science’’ whilst the application of this knowledge for practical purposes is called “applied sciences.’’.
Katung said the bill was designed to provide a highly specialised institution of learning that would provide a holistic view of science as a broad area and how elements of different applied sciences worked with each other.
According to him, the objectives of the university amongst others is to provide courses of instruction and training and research in applied sciences.
He said the school also had the objectives of producing technicians and skilled personnel required for related industries.
Katung said the skilled personnel would act as agents and catalyst through post-graduate training, research and innovation for effective and economic utilisation, exploitation and conservation of Nigeria’s natural, economic and human resources.
He also said the trained skilled personnel would identify technological problems and needs of the society and find solutions to them within the context of overall national development.
According to him, the institution will also provide and promote sound basic scientific training as a foundation for development of technology and applied sciences.
He said the potential of the Nigerian economy was very high and to achieve the potentials, high-level technical and scientific expertise was needed.
“The establishment of the university proposed in the instant bill will advance knowledge through research and nurturing of unique innovations in applied sciences by transformation of scientific knowledge of Nigerian graduates.
“This, will in turn, stimulate Nigeria’s technological advancements.”
He said the proposed university of applied sciences, although located on an existing institution, would attract some financial implications for its operational and physical structures.
These, he said, were necessary for smooth takeoff at the existing Federal College of Statistics, Manchok in Kaduna state.
