FUT Minna VC: Impactful research key to unlocking true potential of universities, generate income 

Professor Faruk Kuta has asserted that impactful research is the key to unlocking universities’ true potential and boosting their revenue in Nigeria.

Speaking during the 6th Researcher’s and Inventor’s Award ceremony at the main campus of FUT Gidan-Kwano, Prof Kuta highlighted that while all universities teach, it’s the innovation and tangible products from research that make the difference or sets a university apart.

“All universities in Nigeria can teach, everybody can do it. They stand on three major pillars which include teaching, research, and community service”

“However, what brings out a university is research or differentiates one university from another is its research as well as ingenuity that serves the community through its product,” Kuta said.

He argued that researchers are turning research into a game-changer, driving both impact and revenue for FUT Minna without over depending on the government only for funding.

” That’s why I tell you today to go to TETFUND and ask, they will tell you that FUT Minna is a vibrant university when it comes to research. We are reducing reliance on government funding by translating research into products”

” And, despite facing funding challenges, FUT Minna’s robust research initiatives have earned it a 7th place ranking in Nigeria and recognition from global bodies. That’s why, we keep encouraging our researchers to keep pushing boundaries,” the VC maintained.

Giving a background to the event, earlier, the Director of the Directorate for Research Innovations and Development (DRID), Prof Chiemela Chinma recalled that the University was ranked first in the 2024 National Research Fund grants cycle and it also won the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) commercial agriculture project worth N1 billion, in addition to patents and international grants won by its researchers. He acknowledged the Vice-Chancellor’s commitment to celebrating the researchers doing the University proud.

On the awards, Professor Akin Osunde, Department of Soil Science and Land Management, responding on behalf of the awardees, noted the need to bring in more senior professors of the university into the research work in order to win more grants for the institution.

He then commended the vice chancellor for initiating the award to encourage researchers and inventors to continue to push boundaries by coming up with new innovations.

Furthermore, Prof Abubakar Saidu, Dean of the Postgraduate School, in a vote of thanks, applauded the university management and researchers for their remarkable achievements and thereby giving it a growing prominence in the country.

FUT Minna VC: Impactful research key to unlocking true potential of universities, generate income