FUTIA well-positioned for technological education – VC
Akpan Umoh, Uyo
The Federal University of Technology, Ikot Abasi (FUTIA) in Akwa Ibom is a tertiary institution well-positioned for research and training of manpower to enhance the technological development of the nation.
The Vice Chancellor of FUTIA, Prof. Leo Daniel, said this during interaction with newsmen on the activities of the young institution in Ikot Abasi.
Daniel said that the institution has acquired a wind tunnel and Aerodrome for the research and training of students in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the University.
He said the two facilities will put students of Aerospace engineering in a vantage position to have practical knowledge and embark on research in their chosen career.
The Vice-Chancellor, who is a professor of aerospace engineering from a Russian university and Massachusetts Institute of Technology ( MIT) in the United States disclosed that the facilities are not even available at some Airports in Nigeria.
According to him, the students are fortunate to have them for their practical studies.
“Wind tunnel that we don’t even have in Akwa Ibom Airport will soon be here.
“And we will have what we call Aerodrome which will be part of the Aerospace Engineering facilities for training and for research as well as other facilities that are coming in to equip this institution,” Daniel said.
He said the National Universities Commission (NUC) had approved three schools for the institution.
He listed the schools to include; the School of Computing and Information Technology, School of Engineering and Technology, School of Pure and Engineering Technology and with 12 programmes including other programmes such as Cyber Security and Naval Architecture, among others.
The vice chancellor said, “The backbone of modern society, engineering and technology hold the key to sustainable development.
“We are 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 admitted students who just finished their first semester exams for this session.
“We have three schools with 12 programmes. Among them is the Department of Aerospace Engineering, my field of expertise.
“It is a research thrust era we want to build in the Federal University of Technology.
“Other programmes such as Cyber Security and Naval Architecture are parts of the programmes and the first in Nigeria.”
He said the institution depends on funds from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TetFund) and the Akwa Ibom State government which donated about 220 hectares of land for the take off the institution.
Daniel said that the institution remains the best in the South-South, with zero tolerance for cultism, as students admitted must be above board.
He added that within a short time, the institution has benefitted from TeTFund through some intervention projects such as the supply of furniture, other equipment and grants.
He said the institution has recruited 90 Academic Staff with excellent academic backgrounds while 120 Non-Academic staff have been employed to start the university adding more will be engaged as the institution expands.
The vice chancellor appreciated Akwa Ibom state government for the land and other logistics and requested the construction of an internal road network within the campus.
