President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially signed into law the bill establishing the Federal University of Technology, Ilaro (FUTI), upgrading the existing Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro in Ogun State into a full-fledged university.
The announcement was made by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who praised Tinubu for the significant move and congratulated Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (APC, Ogun West) who sponsored the bill, as well as the people of Ogun West and the entire state.
The bill passed its third reading in October 2024, marks a major milestone for Ogun West, which until now didn’t have a federal university.
Reacting to the development, Senator Adeola expressed deep gratitude to President Tinubu, describing the assent as a major step toward strengthening higher education under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“This is a historic moment for my constituents in Ogun West. We were the only senatorial district in Ogun without a federal university. President Tinubu has recognized the strategic importance of Ilaro as an industrial hub and acted decisively,” Adeola stated through his media adviser, Kayode Odunaro.
Senator Adeola recalled that efforts to elevate the polytechnic began in 2016 during the 8th National Assembly, when the Senate first passed the bill under then-Senate President Bukola Saraki, though it failed to pass the House of Representatives. The bill resurfaced in the 9th Senate, passed both chambers under Senator Ahmed Lawan, but was not signed by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Today, that vision has finally come to life under President Tinubu and the 10th National Assembly. I am deeply thankful for this achievement nearly a decade in the making,” Adeola said.
He also emphasized that Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro already possesses strong infrastructure and qualified personnel, surpassing many newly established universities, making it a natural candidate for conversion into a university of technology.
Adeola lauded Tinubu’s broader educational reforms, including the student loan scheme, increased funding for tertiary education, and investments in infrastructure, calling them signs of a focused and impactful national education agenda.
The new Federal University of Technology, Ilaro, is expected to broaden access to technical and technological education and accelerate socio-economic development in Ogun West, a region known for its industrial potential.
