The Pro-Chancellor and Governing Council Chairman, Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences, Iyin Ekiti, Senator Binta Garba, has said that President Bola Tinubu’s education reforms and the creation of specialised universities are strategic steps to place Nigeria at the forefront of technology and environmental sciences in Africa.
Garba spoke during the council’s second meeting at the newly established institution held in Iyin Ekiti on Monday.
She said the president’s commitment to building high-impact research and innovation centres would boost Nigeria’s global competitiveness.
According to her, Tinubu has a vision for educational development in the country that would positively impact the country’s development.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu, on February 20, 2025, assented to two separate bills establishing FUTES, Iyin Ekiti and Federal University of Agriculture and Development Studies, Iragbiji, Osun State.
Tinubu then said that the specialised institutions will address the educational needs of the populace while driving research and innovation and contributing to the country’s overall economic growth and development.
Tinubu had said, “The institutions will serve as training grounds for developing agriculture, science and technology professionals and enhancing Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global economy.”
Garba expressed satisfaction that FUTES was ready for the seamless take-off of academic activities next month.
She expressed the council’s determination to work with the university’s principal officers to bring about academic excellence and advance technology and environmental sciences.
She said, “I can assure you that this university will break barriers.”
She said that the Federal Government’s vision for the university was for a global institution that would be at the forefront of environmental science education.
Garba, who stressed that education funding should not be left in the hands of government alone, called for support for FUTES from well-meaning individuals, groups and corporate bodies.
She said, “Government cannot do it alone. We need to go out to look for men and women who believe in education internally and externally
to be contributors.
“We have been talking to other institutions and organisations to put in place modern infrastructure that would stand the test of time in the school.”
Garba hailed the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Gbenga Aribisala, and his team for setting the pace for academic excellence and ensuring an environment and university culture that promote and prepare students to tackle future challenges and be major players in job creation.
Garba expressed satisfaction with the friendliness of the host community. “With the university, the community will be a mini-Nigeria, where citizens from different ethnic backgrounds and cultures will attend,” she added.
Aribisala, who said that students had been admitted to the institution, said that academic activities would begin fully by December this year after staff recruitment and orientation.
Aribisala said, “I also need to tell the public that the President has graciously approved that we do recruitment of staff, both teaching and non-teaching. By the special grace of God, the advertisement is out in two national dailies, and it is going to run for about six weeks, after which we will do the recruitment.
“The portal where applications will be submitted is ready. We are in the 21st century, so it is not going to be manual; applicants will need to apply online. The link is in the advertisement, and it is also on the school website. Different vacancies are available. As a federal university, it covers the whole federation because of the federal character. Applicants will later write an examination online, and those who succeed in that will now go for the final stage of the interview.”
The Oluyin of Iyin Ekiti, Oba Adeniyi Ajakaye, assured the university that the community would continue to provide an enabling environment for the staff and students.
Ajakaye said, “Let me assure you that whatever it is in our capacity to make this university a great one, we will be ready to do it for you. We are ready, we will make the environment so conducive for the smooth takeoff of the university and for the running of the institution.”
The monarch lauded Tinubu for his support of the institution.
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