Kalu Says Otti’s C-of-O Approval Will Fast-Track Federal Institutions in Bende
ISSN: 2354-4481
By Elem Patrick Ndu
BENDE, ABIA STATE — Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has commended Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, for approving Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O) for two federal tertiary institutions located in Bende Local Government Area of the state.
The institutions are the Federal College of Education, Bende, and the Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, Item, Bende.
Kalu, who represents Bende Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, said the approval would facilitate the commencement and development of the two institutions and strengthen efforts to expand educational and healthcare opportunities in the area.
The Deputy Speaker made the commendation following the approval of the relevant C-of-O documents by the Abia State Government, describing the development as an important step towards the physical take-off of the institutions.
According to him, the establishment of the institutions is expected to generate employment opportunities, increase access to higher education, improve healthcare training and services, and stimulate economic activities within Bende and other parts of Abia State.
The development followed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s assent in June 2025 to legislation establishing the Federal College of Education, Bende, and the Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, Item, Bende.
The bills for the establishment of the two institutions were sponsored by Kalu, who has been advocating increased federal presence and development projects in his constituency.
The same period also saw President Tinubu assent to legislation establishing the Federal University, Okigwe, in Imo State, with the bill sponsored by Senator Patrick Ndubueze.
Kalu said the latest development demonstrated the importance of cooperation between the federal and state governments in delivering projects capable of having long-term impacts on local communities.
He particularly acknowledged the working relationship between his office and the Abia State Government, saying such collaboration was necessary to advance the development agenda of the state.
The Deputy Speaker pledged to continue working with the state government and relevant federal agencies to attract additional projects and institutions to Abia.
He said the establishment of the two tertiary institutions would provide new opportunities for young people in Bende and surrounding communities while contributing to the broader socio-economic development of the area.
Bende Local Government Area is one of the local government areas in Abia State, southeastern Nigeria. The area is part of the state’s northern axis and has historically been an important agricultural and commercial community. The establishment of federal tertiary institutions in Bende is expected to increase the area’s educational infrastructure while creating opportunities for students, academic and non-academic staff, businesses and service providers.
The Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, Item, is located in Item community, Bende LGA, while the proposed Federal College of Education, Bende, is expected to expand the area’s capacity for teacher education and professional training.
The approval of the C-of-O is a significant administrative step in the development of institutional infrastructure, as land documentation is required for the planning and execution of permanent facilities.
Kalu said he remained committed to attracting federal investments to Bende and other parts of Abia State, stressing that continued collaboration among political leaders and government institutions would be essential to translating the projects into tangible benefits for residents.
