By Joy Odor
The Surveyor General of the Federation, Surv. Abuduganiyu Adebomehin has urged the Senate to upgrade the Federal School of Surveying (FSS) in Oyo to a Federal University of Geomatics.
- In a press statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday by Henry David, the OSGOF Head, Information and Public Relations affirmed that about 70% of Nigeria’s surveyors are Alumni, and its upgrade would enhance technological advancement in the country.
Adebomehin who emphasized the school’s significance Informed that established in 1908, FSS is Nigeria’s oldest technical training institution and the first school of surveying in Africa and has played a crucial role in shaping Nigeria’s surveying profession.
The OSGOF maintained that upgrading FSS would enable Nigeria to keep pace with global technological advancements, particularly in geomatics and related fields.
Adebomehina added that the proposed university would offer courses that currently require Nigerians to study abroad, promoting local expertise and innovation.
In his address, the Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin emphasized the importance of education as a right, not a privilege, and expressed support for innovation and social development.
While Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade highlighted the significance of surveying in land development and endorsed the upgrade, citing the school’s expandable departments and autonomous status.
“As a matter of fact, when other institutions were being upgraded, the School of Surveying was left out. So it is timely now to see that this school should at this time be upgraded to a University of Geomatics”.
He further noted that the departments there are really expandable and they have become autonomous.
The institution has been offering diplomas, international diplomas, and postgraduate diplomas.
There is not much to say about justification because I have said already, but I want to say that surveying is cardinal to land, and land is fundamental to development.”
Senator Yunus Abiodun Akintunde who sponsored the Bill, citing the need for Nigeria to adapt to modern technologies like cloud computing, Artificial Intelligence, and machine learning
The bill has passed its second reading in the Senate and will undergo further review by the Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund.
The six bills that were considered by the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and Tetfund are as follows:
Federal University of Health Sciences, Funtua;
Federal University of Geomatics, Oyo Federal University of Education (Special Oyo),
Federal University of Technology and Vocational Studies, Yaba;
Federal University of Technology, OmokU; Federal University of Technolgy, Ikot Abasi.
