The Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Professor Faruk Adamu Kuta has inaugurated the University Advancement Board with a call on its members to intensify efforts on how to garner resources for running the institution.
The inauguration took place on Monday, June 19, 2023, at the Senate Chamber, Main Campus, Gidan Kwano. Prof. Kuta who is also a member of the board pointed out that a university belongs to its alumni, adding that majority of the renowned universities in the world are assisted by their alumni and Advancement Offices.
Expressing happiness for inaugurating the Board, he explained further that resources for running the University were becoming increasingly scarce and as such, the University is in dire need of assistance, adding that he had taken it upon himself to tour the country ‘cap in hand’ in search of financial assistance for the institution.
The Vice-Chancellor therefore called on the Board members to explore all avenues of impacting on the finances of the University.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Advancement Board, Mukhtar Mohammed, promised to do much for the University by God’s grace.
He emphasized that one goal they aim to achieve within the first year is to have a 100-million naira endowment fund for the institution.
The Chairman immediately commenced the endowment fund donation with a personal pledge of N1million and assured that there are lots of alumni out there that are doing well whom they will have to reach out to for support.
Mohammed expressed optimism that the endowment fund of N100 million was attainable within the first year.
Earlier, the National President the University Alumni Association, Alhaji Abubakar Kimpa Isah, who was represented by the Alumni Relations Officer of Postgraduate School, Mr. Jimoh Yakubu, rolled out some of the
proposed projects of the Association to include: plantation project, investment opportunities, launching of endowment funds and hostel projects.
“As a supportive stakeholder in the Federal University of Technology, Minna, the Alumni will jointly work with the school in general and the Advancement Office in particular to execute these laudable projects and deliver on your mandate,” he assured.
Making a PowerPoint presentation, the Director of the University Advancement Office Prof. Idris Abdullahi marshalled out achievements Advancements of the Office, as well as its future projections.
He pointed out that with the realization that it is not easy to fund the university system now, there is always the need to augment whatever funding the University needs so as to bridge the gap between funds from government, the internally generated revenue of the University.
He therefore added that the Advancement office will serve as a catalyst for searching for support for the University, among other things.