The House of Representatives is considering a bill aimed at establishing six specialized agricultural colleges in the country.

This Bill which comprises 3 clauses principally seeks to amend the Third Schedule of the Principal Act to provide for the establishment of Federal College of Veterinary and Medical Laboratory Technology, Bende, Abia State; Federal College of Land Resources Technology, Takum, Adamawa State; and Federal College of Land Resources Technology, Ikole Ekiti, Ekiti State.

Others include Federal College of Freshwater Fisheries Technology, Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State; Federal College of Animal) Health and Production Technology, Dange Shuni, Sokoto State; Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Olamaboro, Kogi State.

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Benjamin Kalu, who is the sponsor of the proposed legislation, noted that agriculture remains a vital part of Nigeria’s economy and a key driver of rural development, job creation, food security, and national GDP.

Kalu argued that the Bill, which scaled through the second reading stage on the floor of the House on Wednesday, is a strategic step toward ensuring agricultural innovation is not confined to a few urban centres but is equitably distributed across the federation.

Kalu expressed optimism that when the bill becomes law, it will lead to a stronger agricultural research ecosystem, more employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for Nigerians, greater food security, and overall economic growth.

He said, “This is not merely to introduce a legislative proposal, but to lay before this People’s House a vision — a vision to take agricultural education into the fabric of our national development strategy and effort.

“A vision that recognises that research and innovation must not remain in silos or city centres, but must live where the land is tilled, where the livestock roam, where the rivers run.

“Through this amendment, we are not simply adding institutions — we are answering a national call -a call to invest where there is untapped potential, to empower those whose hands feed the nation, and to deepen our national agricultural productivity capacity by expanding the mandate and reach of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria through the establishment of specialised training institutions in various parts of our great nation by establishing certain specialized agricultural colleges in strategic locations across the six geo-political zones.”

The bill was put to a voice vote by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, who presided over the session, referred to the Committee on Agric Colleges.