Bill to rename Benue varsity passes second reading

The bill to rename the Benue State University (BSU), Makurdi, after the second civilian governor of the state, Rev. Fr Moses Adasu, on Thursday passed second reading during plenary at the Benue Assembly.

The Majority Leader, Mr Saater Tiseer (APC/Mbagwa), said that the provisions of the assembly’s Standing Orders XII, Rule 83, limited the second reading to the general merits and principles of a bill and not its details.

Tiseer said that the bill was aimed at changing the maiden name of the university to Adasu as a mark of honour as the founder of the university.

“In 1992, the second civilian governor of Benue, the late Rev. Fr. Moses Adasu, successfully established the Benue State University.

“He swiftly set up a steering committee led by the late Chief Edwin Ogbu, which ensured the take-off of the university in the 1992/1993 academic session.

“The Benue State University became a reality under the watch of the late Adasu, whose tenure lasted for barely two years before it was truncated by another military intervention.

“32 years after its establishment, BSU has fulfilled the dream of its founding fathers by providing the Benue child with easy access to university education and employment opportunities as well as highly trained manpower.

“Relatedly, the bill for a law to establish the Benue University of Agriculture, Science, and Technology, Ihugh, also passed second reading,” he said.

The majority leader said that the bill was aimed at establishing a professional university in the state as a replacement for the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi.

He said that the federal university has been restructured into a conventional university offering courses in both the physical sciences, arts, and the humanities.

According to him, the proposed university was a timely and transformative initiative.

Tiseer stated that the university would undertake research in modern agriculture, harness local potentials in technological innovations, and partner with advanced universities in other climes.

The majority added that it would and equip the youth with entrepreneurial skills needed to drive economic growth and development.

He said it was in addition to availing the Benue child of more options and access to higher education in the changing world order.

The Minority Leader, Mr Michael Audu, seconded the two motions and the bills second reading.

The Clerk of the House, Mr John Hwande, therefore, read the bills for the second time.

The Speaker, Mr Hyacinth Dajo, in his ruling, referred the bills to the House Standing Committee on Higher Education for further legislative scrutiny.