By Eze Okechukwu, Abuja

The federal government has inaugurated the Governing Council of the Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences (FUTES) in Iyin Ekiti, Ekiti State alongside its principal officers, disclosing that the newly established institution will kick off full operations in September 2025.

Shortly after the inauguration, Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele officially donated two Toyota Coaster Buses, one Toyota Hilux Utility Vehicle, one Toyota Hiace Ambulance and two motorcycles, among others, to the university to fast-track its takeoff as scheduled. The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa inaugurated the governing council and principal officers of the university on Tuesday in Abuja, saying the university was created to develop manpower in areas the country was having a human capital deficit.At the inauguration were the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad; Pro-Chancellor and Chairperson of the University Governing Council, Senator Binta Garba; Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Olugbenga Aribisala and Chief Executive Officer, Premium Trust Bank, Mr. Emmanuel Emefienim, among others.During the inauguration on Tuesday, the minister commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for paying special attention to the country’s education sector, disclosing that the Ministry of Education received the third highest budget for the first time in the history of Nigeria.Alausa added that the newly established university would kick off full operations in September 2025, disclosing that the Federal Ministry of Education had officially briefed the National Universities Commission and Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board to add it to the list of the country’s universities.The minister justified the establishment of the university, which according to him, perfectly aligned with the action plan of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to speed up the development of human capital in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and create limitless opportunities for the country’s upcoming generations.He explained that the newly established university would focus on training and producing graduates in core areas of specialisation where no fewer than 2.2 million job opportunities “are presently available, though nobody is available to take up those opportunities.”Unlike most of the universities currently in operation, the minister noted that FUTES would be producing high-demand manpower for national development in the area of software engineering, proactive security, cloud computing, IT automation, quantum computing, artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Also at the inauguration, Bamidele commended the minister for what he did to ensure that President Tinubu signed the bill establishing the Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences, Iyin Ekiti into law.Before the bill was signed into law, Bamidele explained how the host community went into work; set up a takeoff committee and secure a location for the new university to demonstrate their readiness for the institution.He further explained that the host community made all these efforts even when they had not known what the decision of the president would be, who would chair the university’s governing council or where the principal officers of the university would come from.According to the senate leader, at least seven retired professors from the host community of the university were utterly committed to its seamless takeoff. One of the retired professors, Late Prof. Ekundayo Adeyinka Adeyemi, was the first professor of architecture in West Africa. He was the one who suggested that “Environmental Sciences should reflect in the name of the institution Bamidele, therefore, called for a one-minute silence in honour of Late Prof. Akinyemi the first professor of architecture in West Africa, who recently passed on while still in active service to his community, state and his fatherland.Speaking at the inauguration, Aribisala explained the distinctiveness of the university is unique, saying it was the first of its kind in the history of Nigeria, which would offer specialised programmes.The programmes, according to him, will include Robotics and Mechatronics Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Forestry and Environmental Management, Industrial Designs, Cyber Security, Data Science and Economics, Artificial Intelligence and Software Engineering, among others.Aribisala noted that the vision of the university was “to create a 21st century world-class institution that is a reputable citadel of learning and a global player in the knowledge production, a university that is ICT-driven and residential for both staff and students.”

By Raphael Atuu, Abuja

The President, Nigeria Digital Chambers of Commerce, Miebaka Adoki has promised to change the health sector in the country.Adoki stated this while speaking with journalists at the airport in Abuja.The president pointed out that he has consulted his partners in Dubai and Malaysia and after a series of meetings; they were willing to come invest in the country in the health sector.

”We have the Tricare equipment which is changing lives throughout the world and am the distributor in the country “. “Health is wealth and needs to be taken seriously.“My plan and desire is to eradicate most of these diseases in the country, build big hospitals, and change the narrative of the health sector in the country,” Adoki stated.He pointed out that for a society to get it right, the people must be physically and mentally alright and looking inward, the country has many health challenges and this cannot be left in the hands of the government alone.“I am calling on other Nigerians to also partner with the government to change the narratives of other sectors in the country, so that the country will be more developed, for the government can’t do all”.

By Tony Obiechina Abuja

Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa yesterday warned principals of Unity Schools in the country against admitting students more than the capacity approved for them.He further warned that any principal who flouts this directive will be removed from office, adding that over-crowding of any school facility in the country is dangerous to the lives of students and teachers alike.

Dr Alausa spoke in Abuja in the company of the Minister of State for Education, Prof Suwaiba Said Ahmad and Permanent Secretary, Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan, during a meeting with Principals of Unity Schools. He said “If you admit students beyond the capacity of the school, you will not be Principal the next day.”Overcrowding is dangerous. We cannot subject the life of any child to danger. I am not ready to lose my job for anybody’s carelessness. The President is changing many things in the education sector for the better.In order not to compromise the schools capacity, the Minister said himself and the leadership of the Ministry will not ask for any admission slot.To this end, he said if anybody comes to the school to mention his name, such a slot should not be given as he would not ask for any Minister’s admission slot.Noting that the Federal Government is reinventing the education sector back to what it was before, he said the Unity Schools were set up to be a unifying centre for the country.He also warned that parallel leaderships in schools involving Parents Teachers Association (PTAs) on one side will no longer be allowed.Dr. Alausa said that no Federal Science and Technical College (FSTC) will be recognized going forward, saying that they are not concentrating on the technical aspect as was envisaged.He said they will now be replaced with Federal Technical College (FTC) in order to concentrate on pure technical education.Stressing that a lot of leaders went to technical schools, the situation today has changed from what it was twenty years agoThe Minister assured the Principals that they will have all the support they need under the current dispensationHe said the expectation of President Bola Tinubu is for Nigerian students to get the best quality education just like their contemporaries across the globe.According to him, this has informed the President’s support to the education sector, which he said should be reciprocated by the stakeholders. He urged the Principals to be diligent, stressing that if they don’t get it right, it will not be well for society.Speaking earlier, the Minister of State for Education, Prof Suwaiba Said Ahmad, informed the Principals that the government can no longer accept things the way they are.She noted that the principals will get their rewards here and hereafter if they shape their students well to better their future as they will get rewards from God and humanity.According to her, the teaching profession has lost its glory because the primary assignment of training the next generation has been neglected.”So be vigilant, dedicated and effective managers of resources,” she stated.While noting that Federal Unity Colleges are grappling with many challenges, she urged the Principals to explore other alternatives to fund the schools apart from budgetary provisions.She urged them to embrace public, private partnerships, engage old students’ alumni, take opportunities of Corporate social responsibility initiatives, community and character contribution, grants and donor funding and they should be proactive and transparent.While commending them for contributions to nation building, she said “The task before us is enormous but not insurmountable”.The Permanent Secretary, Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan pointed out that the Minister and the Minister of State are committed to developing the education sector in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.He stressed that the dialogue is timely and essential to share ideas and rub minds that can drive progress in unity schools.The Permanent Secretary charged them to give inputs for new approaches and strategies that can take the schools to new levels of excellence.”So that it can provide a sane and conducive environment for our future leaders. We need you to nurture them to stardom.” he added.