President Bola Tinubu has emphasised that purposeful investment in young people is essential for national progress, insisting that access to quality education must not be limited by financial hardship.
The President made this known through the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa’id-Ahmad, at the 34th Convocation and 43rd Founders’ Day ceremony of the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna, held on Sunday.
He praised the institution for its four decades of contribution to science, engineering innovation and applied research, describing it as a pillar of technological advancement in Nigeria.
Tinubu said his administration had prioritised education by increasing infrastructure investment and implementing the student loan scheme to broaden access for Nigerian students.
In his address, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Farouk Kuta said the event symbolised the strength of the FUT Minna community, built on resilience, creativity and an unwavering commitment to knowledge and service.
He revealed that the university had achieved notable milestones, ranking seventh best in Nigeria, emerging as the highest-ranked specialised university, and placing among the top 10 nationally and 68th in Africa.
According to Kuta, the institution’s expansion strategy was a deliberate move to strengthen its role as a technology-focused university, particularly in training healthcare professionals and medical technologists to meet national needs.
He said staff welfare remained a priority, with the promotion of 146 senior non-teaching staff and 110 junior staff, as well as the confirmation of appointments for 22 employees. He added that the university clinic and sports complex had recently been renovated to improve the learning environment.
The Vice-Chancellor encouraged the graduates to see themselves as problem-solvers and worthy ambassadors of the university.
The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Dr Mohammed Santuraki, commended President Tinubu’s reforms, noting that they were fostering steady national development.
He also thanked Niger State Governor, Umar Bago, for his N100 million donation towards the construction of a female hostel for medical students, and praised the Vice-Chancellor’s effective resource management.
Speaking on behalf of the graduates, the overall best graduating student, Koter Oluwadamilola from the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, said the achievement reflected perseverance, faith and collective effort.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), a total of 5,297 students graduated from FUT Minna in the 2024/2025 academic session.
