Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi (APC, Ogun West), has expressed heartfelt gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for signing into law the bill upgrading the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, in Ogun State, to a full-fledged Federal University of Technology, Ilaro (FUTI).
The bill, which had earlier passed through both chambers of the National Assembly, was officially assented to by President Tinubu and announced on the floor of the Senate by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during Tuesday’s plenary.
Senator Adeola described the approval as a landmark achievement not only for the people of Ogun West but for the entire state.
According to him, the university status for the institution in Ilaro marks the end of Ogun West being the only senatorial district in the state without a federal university.
“I want to sincerely appreciate Mr. President for hearing the cries of my people in Ogun West in this sector.”
“In Ogun State, my senatorial district is the only one without a federal university and we are very grateful to the President for seeing the merit for a university of technology in Ogun West, the industrial area of Ogun State,” Senator Adeola stated.
The lawmaker noted that the transformation of the polytechnic into a university aligns with Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda,” particularly in the education sector, which includes policy directions such as the student loan scheme and funding for both academic and non-teaching staff.
He described the move as a “liberating upgrade,” adding that it shows President Tinubu’s genuine commitment to the growth of tertiary education in Nigeria.
“The president’s educational policies, infrastructural drive, and student support schemes are clear testimonies of his desire to strengthen higher education in the country,” Adeola noted.
Senator Adeola recounted the long journey leading up to the current milestone, tracing it back to 2016 during the 8th Senate under Senator Bukola Saraki. Although the bill was passed in the Senate at that time, it failed to make it through the House before the session ended.
“In the 9th Senate under Senator Ahmed Lawan, the bill passed both the Senate and the House of Representatives but wasn’t signed by then President Muhammadu Buhari. Now, in the 10th Assembly, under a performing President, the long-awaited dream of a decade has become a reality,” he said.
He further pointed out that one of the strong arguments for the university upgrade was the institution’s existing infrastructure and qualified personnel—resources which, he argued, are more advanced than those of some newly established federal and state universities.
