Preparations are in top gear for the September take-off of the Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences (FUTES) in Iyin-Ekiti, following a thorough inspection by officials from the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission.
The university, signed into law earlier in 2025 by President Bola Tinubu, received praise from the visiting team for its rapid infrastructural development. Led by Mrs. Rakiya Gambo-Ilyasu, the team evaluated both permanent and temporary campuses and identified additional requirements such as a modern library, official vehicles for key officers, utility vans, and laptops to support academic and administrative functions.
Key structures already completed include an ICT building, laboratories for science departments, student hostels, boreholes, and a 500-seat auditorium. Construction is ongoing for more academic spaces, religious buildings, eateries, and residential quarters for staff.
Gambo-Ilyasu highlighted the importance of visionary leadership and digital integration in Nigerian universities, urging FUTES to embrace Artificial Intelligence and job-driven education models. She emphasized that the university has the potential to shift Nigerian tertiary education from theory-based instruction to innovation-led solutions.
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Gbenga Aribisala reaffirmed the institution’s dedication to excellence and revealed plans to convert waste to energy to power the campus and support the local community. He appealed to partners to invest in capital projects like the administrative complex.
The Oluyin of Iyin-Ekiti, Oba Adeola Ajakaye, applauded the initiative and pledged total community support for the university’s success and sustainable development.
