By News Maker Media in Abuja
The Senate has passed a bill sponsored by Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, seeking to establish a comprehensive legal framework for the management and administration of thb Yusuf Maitama Sule Federal University of Education, Kano, Kano State.
The bill was passed during Tuesday’s plenary presided over by the Senate President, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, following its consideration and approval by lawmakers.
The proposed legislation is expected to provide the statutory foundation necessary for the university to operate effectively, strengthen teacher education and promote academic development in Nigeria.
The passage represents a significant step towards giving the institution a firm legal footing following its conversion from the Federal College of Education, Kano, to a federal university of education.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved the conversion of the Federal Colleges of Education in Kano and Zaria into federal universities of education in September 2024.
Subsequently, on May 10, 2025, President Tinubu approved the renaming of the Kano institution as Yusuf Maitama Sule Federal University of Education, following a request by Senator Barau on behalf of his constituents.
Leading the debate on the bill, Barau explained that the legislation was necessary to provide legal backing for the university and establish comprehensive provisions for its management and administration.
He recalled his previous efforts in the National Assembly to facilitate the upgrading of federal colleges of education, including those in Kano and Zaria, as well as Alvan Ikoku and Adeyemi Colleges of Education, into full-fledged universities.
According to him, some bills passed during the previous Senate were not assented to by the late President Muhammadu Buhari, prompting renewed efforts under the Tinubu administration to secure the desired institutional upgrades.
Barau said the President responded positively to the request for the Kano institution’s conversion and subsequently approved its renaming in honour of the late Yusuf Maitama Sule.
He expressed appreciation to Tinubu for approving the university and other federal institutions requested by the people of Kano State, including the Federal University of Science and Technology in Kabo and the Federal Polytechnic in Rano.
The Deputy Senate President maintained that the new university would contribute to the advancement of teacher education by offering degree programmes across various fields of education.
In his remarks, Akpabio commended Barau for sponsoring the bill and thanked senators for supporting its passage.
The Senate President expressed optimism that President Tinubu would assent to the legislation when transmitted to him, paving the way for the university to operate under a clearly defined statutory and regulatory framework.
The bill had passed its first reading on March 25, 2025, before progressing through the legislative process to its approval by the Senate.
The development is expected to strengthen the institutional foundation of the university and support its contribution to teacher training and national educational development.
