A look at FUT Minna’s science and tech drive

There are over 140 universities in Nigeria today but the Federal University of Technology (FUT) Minna likes to pride itself as unparalleled and balanced fountain of knowledge in science and technology.  Established 35 years ago (February 1, 1983) as a specialised University of Technology to respond to the technological needs of the nation, the main […]

There are over 140 universities in Nigeria today but the Federal University of Technology (FUT) Minna likes to pride itself as unparalleled and balanced fountain of knowledge in science and technology. 

Established 35 years ago (February 1, 1983) as a specialised University of Technology to respond to the technological needs of the nation, the main objective of establishing this unique institution is to add impetus to the nation’s drive for the much-needed self-reliance in science, engineering and technology.

To its credit, it has succeeded in designing and fabricating various items of national importance. These include solar air heater, motor crankshaft, gearing system for crane hoist drives, rice de-stoning machine, maize sheller, multi-purpose grinder, irrigation models and poultry feeder. 

The university has evolved beyond the traditional role of teaching and researching by incorporating an entrepreneurial component of education that helps to create a mutually beneficial relationship between the worlds of science and business. 

To achieve this goal, the university has established different centres and directorates, with specific mandates. Notable among them are: Directorate of Research and Development (DRID), Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CGEB), Centre for Open Distance and e-Learning (CODeL), Centre for Disaster Risk Management and Development Studies (CDRM & DS), Centre for Human Settlement and Urban Development (CHSUD), West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapter Land Use (WASCAL) among others. 

With these centres and directorates, FUT Minna has become a good example of an entrepreneurial university, a culture that has not been well entrenched in the university system in Nigeria and Africa. 

The inter-connection between the university’s research efforts and the society was rewarded in 2015 when one of the seismic monitoring stations in the country was commissioned in the university. It is part of the federal government efforts toward reducing hazards associated with natural disasters such as flood, earthquakes, landslides and erosion. 

The seismic station is located at the Centre for Disaster Risk Management and Development Studies (CDRMS & DS). It is a training, research and development unit, established in June 2009, following a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the university. 

The university has continuously dispensed efforts and commitments in ameliorating the technological challenges of the country through cutting-edge researches and manpower development. It is reputed as the first university in Nigeria to produce the first carbon nanoparticles. 

The production of carbon nanoparticles would go a long way in assisting drugs delivery, fuel cell technology, solar energy development, new high performance material, improved molecular sieve as well as various bio-medical genetics and electronic advancement. 

The research, which was conducted by the Centre for Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology of the institution was laudable owing to the fact that no institution in the country has recorded such a rare breakthrough.  

Stakeholders have identified funding as, perhaps, the greatest bane in the education sector. Inadequate funding put the management of the education sector under stress and strains, hence they are incapacitated in providing essential services. This has led to rampant crisis in the educational system. 

In order to overcome these challenges FUT Minna has turned to innovations, commercialisation and entrepreneurial practices. 

In line with the dreams of its founding fathers, the management explores alternative sources of revenue. The university, for instance, cultivates mutually beneficial relationships with private organisations, international organisations and through internal arrangements in order to boost its internally generated revenues. 

However, the revenue generated from these efforts cannot be compared to what the university requires to sustain her lofty dream of not only being the best in Nigeria but to become the pride of Africa. 

One of the challenges before the newly appointed Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abdullahi Bala, therefore, is how to expand and consolidate on the existing revenue base of the university.  

Through prudent, transparent and judicious use of scarce resources, the institution under the leadership of Professor Musbau Adewumi Akanji, FAS, FNSBMB, has earned the confidence of government and non-governmental bodies. The upsurge of social amenities such as hostels, halls, office structures and lecture theatres on the permanent site of the university, are proofs that he has positioned the institution for even greater support. A quick tour round the campus will reveal that the university has enjoyed massive infrastructural interventions from the government through TETFund. 

For instance, there is an Academic Publishing Centre owned by TETFund but located on the university campus. This centre services the whole of North Central Zone of the federation. 

According to Professor Akanji, “without TETFund public higher institutions in Nigeria would have gone into oblivion. Today, the success story of FUT Minna has brought about a renewed hope that very soon, Nigeria will depend less on imported solutions to her technological challenges.”  

The administration of a world-class university like FUT Minna requires leaders who will bring not only the traditional values and experiences of higher education, but also result-oriented, alternative leadership experiences. 

According to Professor Akanji, the university is at the moment blessed with responsible and responsive leaders who will not only sustain the university’s present status, but will broaden it until the institution becomes the pride of Africa. “The combination of Professor ‘Femi Odekunle, the Pro-Chancellor/Chairman of Council and Professor Abdullahi Bala, the newly appointed Vice-Chancellor, can best be described as providential. FUT Minna is indeed in safe hands,” he noted.  

He said Professor Odekunle, has over the years built a reputation of a bold and radical scholar, and his legacies as a former Head of Department and Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria are enough qualifications for him to serve as a competent Pro-Chancellor/Chairman of Council. 

The newly appointed Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abdullahi Bala, whom Professor Akanji described as “young, smart, full of energy” has been a committed staff for 27 years and has occupied many positions of responsibility within and outside the university, including being the Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Administration, and later Academics. He has promised to “embrace all and sundry with no distinction to ethnicity, religion, gender or political affiliation.” 

Students and staff of the Federal University of Technology, Minna and indeed, Nigerians are watching with keen interest, to see what difference Professor Bala will make. 

The institution’s Pro-Chancellor had said, “Our hope for a bigger and better FUTMINNA grows in splendour when we reflect on the character of those at the helm of affairs.” 

The hope today is that Nigeria will depend less on imported solutions to her technological challenges.

One of the challenges before the newly appointed Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abdullahi Bala, therefore, is how to expand and consolidate on the existing revenue base of the university.

“The administration of a world-class university like FUT Minna requires leaders who will bring not only the traditional values and experiences of higher education, but also result-oriented, alternative leadership experiences. The task ahead of the new Vice-Chancellor is no doubt herculean, but not insurmountable,” the Pro-Chancellor said.