Governor Mohammed Umaru-Bago of Niger State has pledged N100 million to the Federal University of Technology (FUT) Minna for the construction of new hostels.
This generous contribution was announced during a courtesy visit by the university’s Governing Council at the Government House in Minna.
Governor Umaru-Bago highlighted the pressing need for inter-institutional collaboration among tertiary institutions within the state, emphasizing that such synergy in research and program exchanges could catalyze educational development.
“Doing so would bring accelerated development to the education sector, especially as the government desires to make the state the hub of education,” he stated.
The governor also expressed a keen interest in partnering with FUT Minna on the state’s Green Initiative. He suggested utilizing the university’s vast land to generate power for the institution and its surroundings, reducing reliance on the national grid.
In his address, Governor Umaru-Bago commended the Governing Council’s vision of introducing medicine-related courses, assuring that the government would support making this ambition a reality for the state’s citizens.
Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Council, Muhammad Kudu-Santuraki, praised the university’s achievements, noting its impressive performance in international rankings. “The university has consistently ranked among the top ten for the past three years among over 290 universities in Nigeria,” he proudly disclosed.
Kudu-Santuraki outlined the university’s academic offerings, which include 59 undergraduate programs, 24 postgraduate programs, and several new courses in development. He also revealed FUT Minna’s plans to establish a medical school in collaboration with the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Bida, which would serve as its teaching hospital.
He further acknowledged the governor’s commitment to education and highlighted ongoing challenges faced by the institution. The collaboration between the state government and FUT Minna is anticipated to drive significant progress and innovation in the region’s educational landscape.
