President Bola Tinubu has said that no nation can achieve sustainable development without making deliberate and strategic investments in its youth.
The President, who was represented by the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa’id-Ahmad, made the statement on Sunday at the 34th Convocation Ceremony and 43rd Founders Day of the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna, Niger State.
Tinubu stressed that Nigerians should not be denied access to quality education because of financial constraints, noting that education remains central to national development.
According to him, his administration has continued to expand access to education through targeted infrastructure investments and the implementation of the student loan scheme.
He also commended FUT Minna for its contributions to national development, describing the institution as a centre of excellence.
“The university has distinguished itself as a centre of excellence in science, engineering innovation and applied research,” the President said.
Speaking at the event, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Farouk Kuta, described the ceremony as a powerful affirmation of the FUT Minna community. He said the institution is defined by resilience, creativity and unwavering dedication to the advancement of knowledge and service to humanity.
Kuta disclosed that the university recorded remarkable progress in the past year, ranking as the seventh best university in Nigeria and emerging as the highest-ranked specialised university in the country. He added that FUT Minna also ranked among the top 10 universities in Nigeria and 68th in Africa.
The Vice-Chancellor explained that the strategic expansion of the institution was aimed at fulfilling its mandate as a technology-driven university, particularly in addressing societal challenges through the training of healthcare professionals and medical technologists.
He reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to staff welfare, noting that over 146 senior non-teaching staff and 110 junior staff were promoted, while the appointments of 22 staff were confirmed. He added that the school clinic and sports complex were renovated to create an enabling environment.
Kuta urged the graduating students to see the convocation as a transition from learning to service and encouraged them to become solution providers in their respective fields.
The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Dr Mohammed Santuraki, commended President Tinubu for his reforms, describing them as steps towards steady national progress. He also appreciated Niger State Governor, Umar Bago, for donating ₦100 million towards the construction of a female hostel for medical students.
The overall best graduating student from the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Koter Oluwadamilola, described the achievement as a reward for resilience, perseverance, faith and unity.
A total of 5,297 students were awarded degrees by the Federal University of Technology, Minna, during the 2024/2025 academic session.
