FG MINISTERIAL ASSESSMENT DELEGATION OKAYS FUTESI FACILITIES FOR COMMENCEMENT OF ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES 13-06-25
By Sadiq Aminu …Commends Vice Chancellor, Aribisala On Feats Achieve, Urges Academic Excellence.
As part of measures for the smooth take-off of academic activities and to ensure a proper shape twenty first century university, a delegation from the Federal Ministry of Education and National University Commission, NUC tagged “Ministerial Assessment Team” has visited the Federal University of Environmental Sciences, FUTES, Iyin Ekiti.
The six-man Assessment Team include the Director, Universities, Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs Rakiya Gambo Ilyasu, Dr Kareem Olawale, Deputy Director, Academic Planning, National University Commission, Dr Joe Bisong, Deputy Director, Federal University of Education, Mrs Elizabeth Emma-Egoro, Assistant Director, Mallam Shehu Mohammed Aliyu and the Secretary of the Assessment Team, Mr Markus Jonas, while a Representative of the University’s Governing Council and Member, Professor Rotimi Sanya also joined the team to carry out the exercise.
Some of the facilities ready for use and inspected by the team for the proper take-off, of the academic activities at both the temporary site and the permanent site of the university include, ICT Building, Central Laboratory, Chemistry Laboratory, Physic Laboratory, Class rooms, Clinic, Library, Boreholes, Hostels and 500 Seaters Auditorium, while some ongoing projects include additional space for class rooms, Religious centres, Eateries, Staff accommodations and Security posts.
Other necessary needs of the University include official Vehicles for the four Principal officers, 10 Directors, Pro Chancellor, four Deans, four additional Coaster buses, twenty Five laptops for Principal officers and Head of Units, well equipped libraries, Hilux vehicles for the university security personnel and for other utilities.
The University through the support of Iyin Ekiti Illustrious Sons and Daughters and the Vic’s goodwill had also secured two hundred hectares of lands, accommodations for both the VC and Registrar, while buildings were also donated for smooth take off of the institution.
While conducting round the Team on the spot assessment, the FUTES,Vice Chancellor Professor Gbenga Aribisala also showed them the already designed Physical Master plan and prototype for the phase one of the university, on permanent site and yet to be inaugurated but already finished university website and other platforms to get first-hand information about the newly established Institution.
Having gone round the available facilities, the team asked questions which bother on how the Vice Chancellor, Professor Gbenga Aribisala intend to achieve his Lofty projects, Security of staff and students, additional functional portable water,
stable electricity and a paradigm shift from the present universities’ stature, mode of employing staff and admission of students?
In his answers to all the issues raised by the Assessment Team, Professor Arebisala said that the university was already collaborating with security Agencies in the state and also leveraging on the community policing for the safety of both staff and students, apart from the fact that Iyin Ekiti and its environs were very peaceful and hospitable.
“What FUTES Management is trying to do is to build a 21st-century university, where we will convert waste to wealth by generating electricity for University’s consumption and later the community”
Professor Arebisala said “Employment into the university will be on merit, by the grace of God. We will advertise in national dailies, on the university’s website, and across online platforms to attract applicants from all over the country,”
He added, “Applicants must be proficient in computer usage because our aim is to bring only the best into the university.”
Professor Arebisala explained that “some of the structures were capital intensive and we are partnering well to do individuals and organizations to put in place our administrative building which I believe when completed would be a something that anyone who love good things can be proud of”.
while speaking on how to address some of the challenges in Tertiary Institutions which the Team affirmed to be a culture among the Academics, Professor Aribisala advocated more of oversight function to ensure that university management live up to expectations.
On his part, the FUTES Registrar, Mr Oluwole Dada made available necessary documents for the perusal of the team, and promised that other necessary steps and documents would be forwarded for the smooth takeoff.
During a Visit to the Oluyin of Iyin Ekiti, Oba Adeola Ajakaiye, the royal father commended federal government and President Bola Tinubu for siting the university in his town and promised their continued support to the management of the university in all areas that they felt the community should come in.
The Oluyin said that “we are ready to render assistance where necessary, please and please don’t rely on comments of some miscreants on social media, who may want to destroy the good reputation of those working to make things happen. We are one united people in Iyin Ekiti and we would remain committed to meaningful development of the town”
In an interview, the Team Leader of the Delegation and Director in Charge of Universities, from the Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs. Rakiya Gambo Ilyasu and NUC Representative, Dr Joe Bisong expressed joy at the level of infrastructural facilities put in place despite the fact that the university had not received the take-off grant and commended the FUTES management Team for what they have achieved within a space of two months in office.
In a separate interview, Dr Bisong from NUC and Mrs Gambo-Ilyasu expressed confidence in the ability of the University’s principal officers, led by the Vice Chancellor Professor Gbenga Aribisala to build a world class University.
The Team “We are happy with the level of facilities we met on ground, honesty, the community people are very serious with the university project, it is obviously shown in their approaches that they really want it and ready by willingly donating facilities to take off”.
Mrs. Gambo Ilyasu said “as a team, we are going to present our reports on what we saw on ground for the take off of the university, the establishment of Institution is a great things and a step for Nigeria’s development and we believe the university is going to meet up with the standard of the twenty first century university ”
The team however challenged the university Vice Chancellor to take advantage of research works to bring about meaningful development, through proper management of resources and make use of available resources to reach a meaningful level, through the generation of energy for the university’s consumption.
“if there would be paradigm shift from what the universities culture of propounding theories without meaningful changes, such development must start from the new Universities that are currently springing up. University education should be able to proffer solutions to many challenges in the society, especially in the areas of job creation, waste to wealth and put the country among the comity of technologically advanced nations”.
While speaking on part of the federal government measures to ensure that Nigerian Universities meet the standard, Mrs Gambo-Ilyasu said that was the reason for putting in place leadership that were very sound in their areas of specialisations, principal officers that would carry Institutions to the next level and well equipped Institutions that would meet the current Artificial Intelligence, Al to raise the standard of education.
“The Vice Chancellor should ensure that a more resourceful personnel were recruited, look out for great Nigerians who could assist in building the Institution and make sure that only those who had passion for excellence and ready to lay a good foundation for upcoming generations were employed.’