Project Development Agency Bill Will Enhance National Economic and Technical Development – Stakeholders

Project Development Agency Bill Will Enhance National Economic and Technical Development – Stakeholders

Stakeholders at the interactive session held by Distinguished Senator Patrick Ndubueze (FNSE) representing Imo North Senatorial District of Nigeria, have said that the Project Development Agency Bill, if passed into law, will enhance the economic and technical development of Nigeria.

In pursuant of the actualization of the Project Development Agency Bill sponsored by the Distinguished Senator Patrick Ndubueze, the Senate Committee on Science and Technology under the Chairmanship of Senator Abbas, on Monday, 4th November 2024, held a well attended and successful “Public and Stakeholders Interactive Session” towards the eventual passage of the Bill by the Nigerian Senate.

The well attended and successful ceremony attracted a cross section of all key stakeholders in the science and technology industry, whose interest have been activated since the presentation of the new Bill by the sponsor, Senator Ndubueze, two months after the inauguration of the 10th Senate.
The committee chair, Senator Abbas, kickstarted the event with very robust introduction and was quickly followed up by a more elaborate presentation of the need and core essence of the Bill at this moment in our National economic and technical development.

Relevant stakeholders and their representatives in attendance included the the DG of PRODA, Prof Francis Ndubuaku,alongside the high echelon of her management; the Nigerian Society of Engineers(NSE), as well as affiliate/associated professional bodies bodies to the society; high powered representatives from Council of Registered Engineers of Nigeria(COREN); a substantial section of the media /academia; representatives of various science and technological institutes, agencies, organisation,etc,who are first line beneficiaries of the services of PRODA.

All the discussants made very vital inputs towards fine-tuning the final content of the Bill,which will eventually be articulated and moved for the 3rd and final reading at the Committee of the whole Senate for ultimate passage.

In addition to the above industry discussants,Distinguished Senator Patrick Ndubueze furthermore had the full compliments of all his colleagues in the Science and Technology Committee, robustly led by the chairman Senator Aminu Abass,as well key SPN’s colleagues from the South East geopolitical zone,(the immediate catchment area of the Agency), which included Senators Orji Uzor Kalu(Abia,) and Victor Umeh(Anambra).
They also made their respective invaluable contributions during the discussion session towards strengthening the content of the Bill.

Other major stakeholders in attendance from Senator Ndubueze’s senatorial district, state and geopolitical zone are Hon. Chidi Nwogu (former member of the House of Representatives), Barr Charles Ezekwem, an APC chieftain from Imo state, and Hon Jim Isilebo, Media/Public Relations Consultant.

At the end of the exercise,a very impressed and excited Senator Ndubueze expressed so much happiness and optimism that the Bill will eventually be seen to it eventual fruition after some past failed /still-birthed efforts by the past National Assemblies in the House of Representatives to move towards seeing through a similar efforts,which unfortunately could not materialize.

Lastly but hopefully,the final homeward journey towards the Bills passage will continue as soon as the Senate resumes from their current recess.