Ogun federal varsity targets 2027/28 take-off - Punch Newspapers

The Rector and Acting Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Ilaro, formerly the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Dr Mukail Aremu Akinde.

The Federal University of Technology, Ilaro, Ogun State, formerly the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, has said its transition to a full-fledged university is progressing, with the institution targeting the 2027/28 academic session for take-off. The Acting Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the institution, Dr Mukail Aremu Akinde, disclosed this while speaking on his fourth anniversary in office, saying the transition was being handled strategically as the institution prepares to assume its new status. Akinde, who assumed office on September 27, 2022, also disclosed that the institution’s student population had risen from fewer than 10,000 to more than 27,000, while its academic programmes increased from 34 to more than 100 during the period. According to a statement by the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Sola Abiala, on Monday, the growth formed part of the institution’s transformation as it prepared to complete its transition from the former Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, to the Federal University of Technology, Ilaro. Akinde said committees headed by a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof Ramon Bello, and the Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Dr Charlotte Bose Iro-Idoro, had made steady progress on different aspects of the transition. “Our people should know that the work of changing FPI to FUTI is progressing. Only that thing must be done strategically,” he said. “God willing, we are targeting the 2027/28 academic session as a start-off year. With the institution preparing for National Universities Commission verification, we are also working on an Academic Brief, after which a new institutional Master Plan is expected to be finalised.” The institution, which previously had six schools, now has eight specialised schools following the establishment of the School of Agriculture and the School of Art, Design and Printing Technology. Akinde said the expansion had also led to the creation of departments designed to support industrial development, including Metallurgical Technology, Automotive, Auto-body, Mechanical, Mechatronics, Cement Technology, Welding and Fabrication, Renewable Energy, Agricultural Technology, Animal Health, Horticulture, Crops and Agricultural Extension.See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on Google “Some of these Departments and Divisions include Arts and Printing, Printing Technology, Metallurgical, Automotive, Auto-body, Mechanical, Mechatronics, Cement Technology, Welding and Fabrication, Renewable Energy, Agric Technology, Animal Health, Horticulture, Crops and Agric Extension, among others. From about 34 programmes, we now have 100,” he said. The Welding and Fabrication and Cement Technology programmes, he added, were designed to provide specialised manpower for Dangote Cement Plc at Ibese and other cement companies, as well as the Dangote refinery. Akinde said the institution had also recorded breakthroughs in research and innovation, including patents for a 3-in-1 electric tricycle incorporating solar and CNG technology and an Internet of Things-integrated solar egg incubator and hatcher with dynamic environmental control. Other innovations included an integrated mixer and extruder for mechanised kokoro production, a motorised digester for palm-oil extraction, a compact plastic-bottle shredder and a customised biometric system for student and staff attendance and access control. The Acting Vice-Chancellor said the institution had also expanded its research activities, infrastructure, academic and non-academic staff strength, number of PhD holders and funding through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund. The Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Iro-Idoro, said the institution would commence with nine faculties covering Engineering Technology, Sciences, Environmental Technology, Communication and Information, Administrative and Management Sciences, Social Sciences, Computing, Agricultural Technology and Visual Arts, as well as a Centre for General Studies. New LASU VC unveils eight-point agenda Ogun residents lament as bad road cripples businesses Rail: Solution to Lagos-Ibadan Expressway gridlock The Registrar, Mrs Aderonke Folasade Babatola, said the growth in student enrolment and academic programmes had increased the demand for manpower. Babatola said the institution currently had at least 80 PhD holders and had recruited 371 new members of staff in two batches of 146 and 225. She added that the institution was seeking waivers to enable it to recruit more professors. Akinde said the institution was also automating students’ records and results dating back to 1979, with a target of producing transcripts within 24 hours and completing registration online without physical files and paper-based processes. He said the Directorate of Printing now produced about 30 per cent of examination booklets and all students’ files. He also said government and TETFund interventions had contributed significantly to the institution’s development through high-impact and special interventions, agricultural farm grants, the Senate Building, innovation hubs and capital projects. According to him, capital expenditure had risen from about N400m in 2022 to billions of naira. Akinde said Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola facilitated the institution’s connection to the Papalanto feeder, while TETFund interventions were supporting the installation of 126 transformers across markets, banks and other commercial areas on the campus. He added that his administration had facilitated 43 projects through internally generated revenue and constructed a Squadron Mobile Police base to strengthen security for students and staff within and around the institution. Speaking on his fourth anniversary, Akinde attributed the achievements to the collective efforts of the governing council, principal officers, management, staff, students and unions. “We haven’t done anything, other than that we have to do more collectively with the Council, Principal Officers, Deans, Directors, Heads of Department, Heads of Units, Staff, Students and the Unions,” he said. According to Akinde, the increase in student enrolment had also generated economic benefits for the host community, with transport operators, food vendors and traders benefiting from the larger population. He attributed the cordial relationship between the institution and the host community to the cooperation of the Olu of Ilaro and Paramount Ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Gbadewole Olugbenle. Akinde began his career at the institution in 1987 as a clerk in the Bursary Department and later worked in several administrative positions before becoming an instructor in 1999. He obtained a National Diploma in Accountancy from the institution in 1991 and a Higher National Diploma in Accountancy in 1994. Taiwo Bankole

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