— institution construct solar farm to generate electricity

By Dayo Johnson, Akure

Five hundred and Nineteen of the 6,405 students of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, FUTA, have bagged first class division.

Addressing newsmen in Akure, ahead of the 34th and 35th convocation ceremonies of the University, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Adenike Oladiji, said that 3,408 bagged second class upper, 2139, second class lower division and 339 in third class division for 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 academic sessions.

Oladiji who said that the convocation was slated for November 29th to 30th, lauded President Bola Tinubu, the visitor, for the approval for the establishment of FUTA Teaching Hospital.

According to her, the convocation lecture, entitled “Technology Innovations: A Panacea to Food Insecurity,” will be delivered by the Minister of Interior, Dr. Bunmi Tunji-Ojo, on 29th November 2024.

Speaking on energy challenge, Oladiji, said the Federal Government has approved the the construction of a solar electricity farm in the institution to boost it power supply and revenue generation.

Oladiji added that the solar power project will lead to the provision of sustainable energy and power supply for FUTA and its environs.

The Vice Chancellor said that FUTA has about 20,000 students and 59 fully accredited academic programmes, with more programmes set to be accredited by the Nigerian University Commission.

Oladiji while saying that the institution has maintained its position as the best university of technology in Nigeria, noted that it remained one of the top ten universities in the country.

On the institutions achievement, the Vice Chancellor said that “the University’s scholars achieved 40% citations in the World’s Top 2% Scientists List and won about $1 million in research grants.

“Ten (10) academic staff of the University featured in the Career-long Impact Category and thirty (30) in the Single Year Impact Category.

“nternational Research Grants won by FUTA during the concluded academic session, four (4) researchers in the University won international grants worth GBP 135,420 and USD 882,000.

“TETfund National Research Fund (NRF) won by FUTA researchers in the University – seventeen (17) in number – also won the TETFund’s National Research Fund worth NGN 427,000,000.

” Other National Research Grants worth NGN 2,600,000 were won by three researchers of the University.

“FUTA Central Research Lab won $200,000 Equipment from Top USA Non-Profit Organization – The Seeding Labs

The Julius Okojie Central Research Laboratory (JOCRL) of the University was accepted as an Instrumental Access Awardee by the Seeding Labs in Boston Massachusetts, USA.

 “The Laboratory had taken possession of equipment worth USD 200,000 equivalent of about N330,000,000 (Three Hundred and Thirty Million Naira).

Oladiji added that “The Department of Urban and Regional Planning of the Federal University of Technology, Akure retained its position as the best among all Nigerian universities offering the course.

“FUTA emerged University of the Year during the Cyber-security Merit Awards organized by the Cyber-security Association of Nigeria on 26th September, 2024 in Abuja.

She said that honorary degree awards will be conferred on three distinguished Nigerians:  the General Overseer of Mountain Fire and Miracle, Professor Daniel Olukoya, Mr Ayorinde Ogunruku, and Mr Joel Ogunsola.

Also, the university management has approved the appointment of three academics, Professors Adebisi Balogun, Emmanuel Olusegun Laseinde and Labunmi Lajide, who retired from the University as professor emeriti.