In view of the ongoing National Universities
Commission (NUC) accreditation of Nigerian Universities, three different
accreditation teams were in the Federal University of Technology, Minna to look
at the programmes of the Departments of Biological Sciences, Physics and
Microbiology.
During the presentation of the preliminary
reports to the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Musbau Adewumi Akanji,
FAS, FNSBMB, at the Senate Chamber, the leader of Biological Sciences team,
Prof. Ediga Bede, Agbo from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi
commended the University for providing a world class laboratory for students to
conduct research, while noting that the team tested all the equipment at the
laboratory to ascertain that they are functional.
The leader of the team credited the quality of
students’ projects in the department to the quality of facilities at the
laboratory, adding that the students should also take advantage of the presence
of the Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology to conduct more
researches in natural products.
Prof. Agbo applauded the department for having
seventy-seven percent (77%) of its staff with PhDs while stating that the
students - staff ratio in the department is in line with NUC Benchmark. He
urged the University to look at the departmental programme in order to make the
students job creators after graduation.
On the departmental library, the don expressed
delight with the University for having a functional e-library with more than
five different online sources for books and journals with the aim of scaling up
research in the department and the institution at large.
Presenting its preliminary report for
Microbiology department, Prof. Chikezie Ihebuzoaju Owuama from Modibbo Adama
University of Technology (MAUTECH) Yola, expressed appreciation to the
University Management for the hospitality accorded the team since their
arrival.
Prof. Owuama praised the University for adhering
to the admission requirements of the department while stressing that the
department philosophy is in order.
The team leader appreciated the University for
having good students - staff ratio in line with NUC benchmark and urged the
University to procure latest titles in the field of Microbiology.
Presenting its report for Physics department, the
team leader, Prof. Victor Chukwuma from Olabisi Onabanjo University, (OOU),
Ogun State, hailed the University Management for providing current books and
journals for students in the University library.
Prof. Chukwuma commended the University
Management for the good work they are doing in the University, adding that the
reward for hard work is more work and urged them not to rest on their oars.
Responding, the VC, Prof. Akanji thanked the
teams for the volume of work they have carried out objectively within two days
and expressed delight with the procedure of accreditation exercise since the
appointment of Prof. Abubakar Rasheed as the Executive Secretary of the
National Universities Commission (NUC).
The Vice-Chancellor said based on the
University’s vision and mission, the present administration of the University
is committed to quality teaching, learning and research, which has accounted
for the local and international honours won by the institution’s researchers in
recent times.
He assured the teams that all the gray areas
highlighted for improvement would be looked into promptly with the aim of
addressing the challenges noted.
In a related development, the teams had earlier
on paid a courtesy visit to the University Management on arrival. The three
teams were received at the Senate Chamber by the Vice-Chancellor of the
institution, Prof. Musbau Akanji who assured them that the University
Management is ready to provide all relevant documents they may require to carry
out the exercise.
The Vice-Chancellor, represented by the Deputy
Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Yahaya Iyaka stated that the
composition of the accreditation teams reflects national unity with people from
different parts of the country while expressing optimism that at the end of the
exercise, the departments would be better off.
Labels: Campus News
