The Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUT Minna) has secured a ₦1 billion grant from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) under its Agricultural Commercial Farm Grant intervention, placing the institution among only ten universities nationwide selected for the highly competitive funding.
The development was disclosed by the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Faruk Adamu-Kuta, during a press briefing in Minna as part of activities lined up for the institution’s 34th Convocation Ceremony and 43rd Founders’ Day Anniversary.
Boost for Agricultural Research and Commercial Farming
According to the Vice-Chancellor, the ₦1 billion TETFund intervention is designed to significantly enhance agricultural research, expand hands-on training for students, and strengthen commercial farming activities within the university.
He explained that the funding aligns with national efforts to promote food security, improve agricultural productivity, and commercialize academic research, noting that the grant will help bridge the long-standing gap between research output and real-world application.
The VC stated that the intervention would enable FUT Minna to deepen its role as a research-driven institution while producing graduates equipped with practical skills relevant to modern agricultural and agribusiness demands.
Growing Confidence in FUT Minna’s Research Capacity
Professor Adamu-Kuta said the selection of FUT Minna for the grant reflects increasing confidence in the university’s research capability, accountability, and innovation drive, both locally and internationally.
He disclosed that within the last year, the university attracted two major international research grants, including a three-million-dollar grant for information and communication technology development and a fifteen-thousand-pound Open Access Books grant, further strengthening its global academic profile.
According to him, these funding milestones underscore the institution’s commitment to impactful research, innovation, and knowledge dissemination.
Convocation Figures and Academic Milestones
The Vice-Chancellor also announced that 5,297 students will graduate during the convocation ceremony scheduled for February 1, 2026, covering the 2024/2025 academic session.
A breakdown of the graduating students shows that 4,438 will receive first degrees, 73 will be awarded postgraduate diplomas, 633 will earn master’s degrees, while 153 will graduate with doctoral degrees. Notably, 111 graduates achieved first-class honours.
Improved Rankings and Institutional Expansion
Highlighting recent achievements, Professor Adamu-Kuta revealed that FUT Minna was ranked the seventh-best university in Nigeria and emerged as the highest-ranked specialised university in the latest global university rankings.
He further announced the establishment of a College of Medical Sciences and Health Technology, following approval by the National Universities Commission, with pioneer students already admitted for the 2025/2026 academic session.
Infrastructure Development and Quality Assurance
The Vice-Chancellor disclosed that the university has completed several strategic infrastructure projects, including a gross anatomy laboratory and a bioinformatics laboratory, while work is ongoing on a professorial office complex.
He added that FUT Minna recently participated in an international quality assurance assessment and was also selected among a limited number of universities for the TETFund Academic Staff Training Scholarship programme, reinforcing its commitment to academic excellence and staff development.
Convocation Week Activities
Activities lined up for the convocation week include religious services, a convocation lecture, exhibitions, commissioning of projects, sporting events, and award presentations, reflecting the university’s academic growth and institutional stability.
Professor Adamu-Kuta concluded by reaffirming the university’s readiness to partner with government, industry stakeholders, and the media to drive research commercialization and national development.
