Hon. Engr. Rodney Ebikebina Ambaiowei Moves to Establish Federal College of Nursing in Bayelsa
By Paul Ebi
The lawmaker representing Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Engr. Rodney Ebikebina Ambaiowei, has taken a significant legislative step toward improving healthcare and education in Bayelsa State.
Ambaiowei has introduced a bill seeking the establishment of a Federal College of Nursing and Midwifery in Amassoma, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
The proposal, titled “A Bill for an Act to Provide for the Establishment of the Federal College of Nursing and Midwifery, Amassoma, Bayelsa State, and for Related Matters,” has successfully passed Second Reading in the House of Representatives and has been referred to the Committee on Health Institutions for further legislative consideration.
Explaining the intent behind the bill, Hon. Ambaiowei emphasized that the initiative aims to address the shortage of trained nurses and midwives in the Niger Delta region and to expand access to quality health education for young people in Bayelsa.
> “Bayelsa remains one of the few states without a federal nursing institution. Establishing this college will build the capacity of our young people, strengthen healthcare delivery, and boost local employment,” he stated on the floor of the House.
Located in the same community that hosts the Niger Delta University, Amassoma is poised to become a regional hub for medical and health sciences education if the bill scales through all legislative stages. Supporters of the proposal say the new institution would help reduce the migration of students seeking admission to other states and support the federal government’s efforts to close Nigeria’s health workforce gap.
The bill will next undergo committee review, followed by Third Reading, Senate concurrence, and presidential assent before it can become law.
If passed, the proposed Federal College of Nursing and Midwifery, Amassoma, will join the growing number of federal tertiary institutions designed to strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare system and broaden educational opportunities for young Nigerians.
