The Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences, FUTES, Iyin Ekiti, Professor Gbenga Aribisala has promised to create a twenty first century university education to attract meaningful development through problems solving and build human resources in line with global standard.
Professor Aribisala stated this at the signing of Memorandum of Understanding MOU and Handing over of the National Youth Service Corps Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Centre in Iyin Ekiti to FUTES Management for a period of three year.
He explained that the Acquisition of the centre was part of measures to ensure smooth takeoff of academic activities by September this year in four different faculties which include Environmental Science, Computer and Information Technology, Engineering and Nature Sciences.
“We thank God that has made today to come to pass, it is a very great milestone in the life of our university. Kabiesi, Oba Ajakaiye, you facilitated whatsoever we are witnessing today, you wrote a letter even when we are in Abuja, you sent me a copy to do a follow up, the results we are witnessing today. Sir, we cannot thank you enough, we are very grateful, your effort has made the job very easy for us”.
The FUTES Vice Chancellor who underscored the importance of conducive academic environment for the efficient academic excellence, said that the quality of staff and students remained paramount to both the management and Governing Council of the Institution.
“Our vision is to creat a 21st century university, it is very clear that this is the direction we want to go. FUTES is ready to change the direction and narration where university graduates are roaming the streets looking for job, but we want to produce graduates who could create jobs, be employers of labour and help provide solutions to some of the challenges bedeviling the society.”
While announcing that the Council had already approved those faculties, professor Aribisala promised that Nigeria through the university, would be a global player in contribution to knowledge, production of graduates who are creating jobs and problem solving.
He pointed out that the university would work towards ensuring that between seventy and eighty percent of the students population get accommodation in order to inculcate reading culture, prevent them from roaming about, instill discipline and university culture that promote global academic excellence.
“We are working towards creating an enabling environment for both students and staff in terms of accommodation for at least about seventy to eighty percent, so that they could stay in school environment and read when necessary, instead of roaming about or doing party.”
“This university is first of it kind in Nigeria and we are working to make it a reference point in Africa because Ekiti is known for education and we can’t settled for any less than Academic excellence, discipline and good morals”.
While handing over the facility to the FUTES Vice Chancellor, the NYSC Director Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development, Mr Kehinde Aremu congratulated the Oluyin in Council and the people of Ekiti on the establishment of Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences in the community.
“It is a mark of honour to his Royal Majesty, the Oluyin of Iyin Ekiti Oba Adeola Ajakaiye, to the people of Iyin and FUTES management for NYSC to release this facility for use of the newly established university to ensure good academic environment and smooth takeoff of academic activities. We are stakeholders in moving the country forward and always ready to render assistance where necessary in line with the present administration’s of President Bola Tinubu to make Nigeria great.”
Mr Aremu however charged FUTES management to ensure proper maintenance of the facility, saying that NYSC would continue to render necessary assistance to all new Universities whenever the need arises.
In a remark, the Oluyin of Iyin Ekiti, Oba Adeola Ajakaiye commended the NYSC management for approving his letter, written on behalf of the university for the use of the Scheme facility in the town, with a promise that the center would be returned in better form than how the school met it.
Oba Ajakaiye however called on well to do indigenes of Ekiti to contribute their quota towards the development and smooth takeoff of the university.
Those who signed MOU on the handover of NYSC Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Centre included FUTES Vice Chancellor Professor Gbenga Aribisala, Registrar, Mr Oluwole Dada, and the School Librarian, Professor Isaac Busayo and NYSC Director, Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development, Mr Kehinde Aremu , Director Legal, Barrister Ogar and the Ekiti State NYSC Coordinator, Alhaji Riko Abdullahi Shuaibu.
Other Eminent personalities on the occasion include members of Committee of Oluyin in Council on the creation of Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences.
