By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
The National Universities Commission (NUC) has approved three schools of engineering technology, applied science and computing information technology for Federal University of Technology (FUTIA) in Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State.
Also approved for the university, are 12 departments, including other programmes such as Cyber Security and Naval Architecture among others.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof Leo Daniel disclosed this on Friday during interaction with newsmen at the university campus in Ikot Abasi.
FUTIA is one the newly established federal universities in the country approved by the immediate past administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Daniel, a Professor of Aerospace Engineering from Russian University and Massachusettes Institute of Technology in the United States, also told newsmen that FUTIA which started with 550 students, has recruited 90 Academic staff with excellent academic background while 120 Non Academic staff have been employed with more expecting as the institution expands .
He said the University has acquired Wind Tunnel and Aerodrome for research and training of students in the department of Aerospace Engineering in the University.
According to the Vice Chancellor, the two facilities will put students of Aerospace Engineering at vantage position to have practical knowledge and embark on research in their chosen career.
He said FUTIA a technologically advanced institution with a mandate to build an institution that will bring in other programmes that have not been seen in the past .
“We started with 550 students that were admitted and they just finished their first semester exams for the this session. We have three schools with twelve programmes. Among them is the Department of Aerospace Engineering which is my field of expertise.
“We have 90 Academic staff to start the University. Most of them are Senior Lecturers and Associate Professors. We also have 120 Non Academic staff. We will have more in future”. he said
“It is a research thrust aera we want to build in the Federal University of Technology. Other programmes such as Cyber Security and Naval Architecture are parts of the programmes for the first in Nigeria.”
He said the institution depends on funds from Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TetFund) and Akwa Ibom State Government who donated land from Ikot Okpo Inua and Ette communities to take off the institution.
Daniel who stated the institution remains the best in South South explained that the institution within the short time has benefitted from TeTFund through some intervention projects such as supply of furniture, other equipment and grants adding that more are expected to develop infrastructure in the new university.
He categorized TeTfund interventions in the institution to include take-off grants , High Impact grants, Zonal Intervention and Normal interventions .
The Vice Chancellor thanked Akwa Ibom state government for the land and other logistics and requested for construction of internal road network within the campus to overcome coastal terrain of the area.
