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From John Adams, Minna
The Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUT Minna) says all is now set for the university’s 34th convocation and 43rd founders’ day ceremony, where no fewer than 5,297 students will be awarded various degrees of the institution.
The activities to mark this year’s convocation and founders’ day ceremony will begin on Friday, 30th January, with Juma’at prayers and project commissioning, and will climax with the graduation of 4,438 students with first degrees, 73 with postgraduate diplomas, 633 with master’s degrees and 153 with doctorate degrees on Sunday, 1st February, which is the founders’ day.
Briefing newsmen at the university on Monday as part of the activities lined up for the occasion, the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof Farouk Adamu Kuta, disclosed that no fewer than 111 students will graduate with First Class degrees, 1,525 with Second Class Upper, 2,134 with Second Class Lower, 641 will receive Third Class, while 37 will graduate with Pass degrees.
Speaking on the quality of the graduates, Kuta said: “The centrepiece of this celebration is our graduating students. This year, we proudly present to society a new generation of graduates who have been rigorously trained and equipped with the skills, values, and innovative mindset required to address contemporary societal challenges.”
According to him, the 2026 convocation goes beyond ceremonial pageantry, adding that “it is a ceremony of resilience, academic excellence, innovation and institutional progress. It provide an opportunity to reflect on our journey, showcase our achievements and reaffirm our vision for the future”.
The Vice-Chancellor therefore highlighted some major milestones in the university’s expansion, which include the successful establishment and full approval of the College of Medical Sciences and Health Technology, adding that programmes such as MBBS Medicine and Surgery, Nursing Science and Doctor of Pharmacy have commenced academic activities for the 2025/2026 session following approval by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
Kuta also emphasised the institution’s growing research profile, noting that researchers secured the highest number of TETFund National Research Fund (NRF) grants in the 2024 cycle, as the university also secured a $3 million ICT development grant from Agence Française de Développement.
The Vice-Chancellor acknowledged significant achievements in the area of infrastructural transformation, with the completion of a modern male medical students’ hostel donated by the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa) and a hostel donated by the Niger State Government, calling on other individuals and organisations to partner with the university in providing accommodation for the students.
“We have over 30,000 students and can only accommodate about 6,000 students, which shows that a lot of our students are living outside the campus, which is a concern to us. We need more accommodation and we are calling individuals and organisations to partner with us on this.”
“This year’s convocation goes beyond ceremonial pageantry; it is a celebration of resilience, academic excellence, innovation, and institutional progress,” Kuta added.
The Vice-Chancellor lamented that the institution has only achieved 40 per cent of its students accessing the NELFUND, as the students were not adequately informed about the fund and how to access it, adding that the institution has had to undertake high-level sensitisation so that the students apply for the funds.
He further lamented that the high cost of electricity has gulped all the funds generated by the institution and has not enabled it to engage in other pressing needs, especially transportation.
“When students are in session, we pay ₦80 million per month for electricity as we have been forced to move to Band A. This has diverted the resources that would have been used for other things like getting buses for transportation and provision of accommodation.”
