ABUJA – June 17, 2025 — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed into law three bills establishing new federal tertiary institutions in the Southeast, aimed at boosting access to quality education and advancing regional development.
The bills, sponsored by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, provide for the creation of the Federal College of Education, Bende, Abia State; the Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, Bende, Abia State; and the Federal University, Okigwe, Imo State.
The announcement was made in a statement issued on Monday by Levinus Nwabughiogu, Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Speaker.
According to the statement, the Federal College of Education in Bende will offer full-time academic programs in a wide range of fields including technology, applied sciences, commerce, arts, social sciences, humanities, and management. The institution will also focus on research, skill development, and administrative structures to support effective student learning and discipline.
Similarly, the Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, also located in Bende, is expected to provide high-quality training for students in various health-related disciplines. The university will offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs while conducting medical research and promoting health innovation and policy development.
“The university is expected to contribute significantly to improving human health and well-being through education, research, and service delivery,” the statement read.
In Okigwe, the newly approved Federal University will serve the broader academic and developmental needs of Imo State and its environs, offering higher education and research opportunities across multiple disciplines.
Reacting to the presidential assent, Hon. Kalu expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for signing the bills into law. He also acknowledged the support of the National Assembly and the Nigerian people in pushing the legislative efforts forward.
Kalu described the development as a “historic milestone” for the Southeast and reaffirmed his commitment to delivering more democracy dividends to the region.
He urged residents of the Southeast to continue supporting the Tinubu-led administration, promising more initiatives geared toward national development and regional progress.
