Bomba Dauda
The year 2025 has been described as a period of remarkable legislative sacrifice and achievement for the Senator representing Kaduna South Senatorial District, Senator Sunday Marshall Katung (SMK), following the successful establishment of the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia.
The legislative journey began on 27 July 2023, when Senator Katung sponsored a Bill seeking the establishment of the specialised university. The Bill was read for the first time in the Senate and later passed its second reading, setting the stage for wider legislative engagement.
On 7 May 2024, the Bill was again presented for second reading and subjected to extensive debate on the Senate floor. It received overwhelming bipartisan support from Senators across party lines and was subsequently referred to the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund for further legislative scrutiny.
In continuation of the process, the Senate Committee conducted a public hearing on 16 July 2024, which attracted broad stakeholder participation and reinforced national backing for the proposed institution.
Following the hearing, the Committee submitted its report, which was unanimously adopted by the Senate on 8 October 2024, leading to the passage of the Bill.
The legislative process was completed on 10 December 2024, when the House of Representatives concurred with the Senate’s decision. The Bill was thereafter transmitted to the President for assent on 3 February 2025.
On 20 February 2025, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, formally assented to the Bill, signing it into law and thereby establishing Nigeria’s first and only Federal University of Applied Sciences. The institution is also set to host a College of Medicine in Manchok, marking a historic expansion of federal educational infrastructure in Southern Kaduna.
Observers have described the achievement as extraordinary, particularly as it was accomplished within two years by a first-term Senator. Unlike the common pursuit of high-profile committee positions, Senator Katung prioritised securing a lasting federal presence for his constituency, a decision widely seen as placing collective development above personal political advantage.
With the establishment of the university, Senator Katung has been credited with translating legislative vision into tangible development, reinforcing his reputation as a people-focused lawmaker committed to education, innovation, and long-term regional growth.
Stakeholders across Southern Kaduna have hailed the development as a defining moment, noting that the university will not only expand access to specialised education but also stimulate economic growth and human capital development for generations to come.
As 2025 unfolds, Senator Sunday Marshall Katung’s role in delivering this landmark institution has positioned him as a key figure in the evolving narrative of purposeful representation and sustainable development in Kaduna State and Nigeria at large.
