NCC COMMENDS FUTMINNA RESEARCH AND TRAINING

The meeting which took place at the Vice-Chancellor’s Conference Room, Main Campus, Gidan Kwano was aimed at showcasing the successes recorded by the University through NCC research grants, as well as discussing areas of further collaboration.

At the meeting, NCC’s Director, Research and Development, Mrs. Iyabo Solanke, who led the Commission’s delegation, disclosed that the regulatory body was impressed with the efforts of FUT, Minna, adding that NCC were on the same page with the University on the issue of patenting.

Mrs. Solanke further disclosed that the Directorate of Research and Development was newly created at NCC, with a view to enhancing interface with the academia. She said the Commission is ready to support innovations and collaborations that would be for the benefit of the country.

The Director of Research, Innovation and Development (DRID), Prof. Hussaini Makun, disclosed that five NCC-related research products can be patented, saying that the University has a patent policy on royalty formula hence the need to discuss the way forward on such collaborations with the Commission.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Musbau Adewumi Akanji, FNSBMB, FAS, noted that the relationship between the institution and NCC which he described as beneficial, adding that FUT, Minna researchers have consistently won competitive research grants from the Commission.

Prof. Akanji decried the reluctance of entrepreneurs in the country to invest in research. He appealed to the NCC to further support the University through endowment of physical structures.

Prof. Abiodun Aibinu, the Head of Department, Mechatronics Engineering and Director, Centre for Open Distance and e-Learning (CODeL),  said the University has keyed into the vision of the Executive Vice-Chairman of the NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, which is to improve quality of service, promote ICT, innovation and investment as well  as facilitate strategic partnerships. He made mention of this during his PowerPoint presentation titled "FUT, Minna and NCC: The Journey So Far".

He also brief the team about the University’s proposed Advanced Engineering Innovation Centre and some of the successes recorded by the institution.

The NCC team also had an interaction with some students who gave insight into some on-going researches, as well as some members of staff from the relevant departments.
 

In her remark after the interactions, Mrs. Solanke said that the students had shown that they were getting the best training and that NCC was impressed with the involvement of students in the researches. She assured the University of the Commission’s support.