The Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences, Iyin Ekiti, Prof. Gbenga Aribisala, has said that the institution will take off with academic programmes in four faculties. 

Aribisala, who expressed hope that the maiden admission of students into the institution would begin in October, listed the faculties as Engineering, Computer Science, Natural and Applied Sciences, and Environmental Sciences. 

The VC, who spoke at Ifaki Ekiti at a reception organised in his honour by the 1979 set of the Ifaki Grammar School Old Students Association on Sunday, said that the new university was working towards a fully residential system. 

He thanked his classmates for the honour, pledging that he would continue to support the alumni body whenever necessary. 

Aribisala said, “We are set to lay a solid foundation for academic excellence by running a fully residential institution that will produce disciplined graduates and 21st-century leaders capable of solving Nigeria’s most pressing challenges, particularly unemployment.” 

He assured that the university would prioritise character and learning, saying, “Our vision is clear—FUTES must stand out as the number one university in Africa. 

“We are committed to building a problem-solving, human-centred institution, and we cannot afford to run a wishy-washy system. This is not about making money, but about making Nigeria great”. 

Aribisala reiterated that adverts for recruitment would soon be placed in the media and on the university website. 

He cautioned applicants against patronising fraudulent sites or agents, noting that “only credible scholars willing to impart knowledge would be employed.” 

He disclosed that the National Universities Commission had already conducted a resource verification exercise and expressed satisfaction with some of the facilities. 

“We are only waiting for the NUC to formally communicate with us and JAMB. Admission of our first set of students is expected to begin by October 2025,” he said. 

The Coordinator of the IGSOSA 1979 Set, Mr Olajide Familoye, who took pride in Aribisala’s appointment, said, “This success is our collective success. 

“We believe that he will succeed in laying a solid foundation that will place FUTES on the world map”. 

FUTES Registrar, Mr Oluwole Dada, appreciated IGSOSA for the passion to celebrate excellence and assured the university’s readiness to meet the people’s yearning in terms of academic excellence. 

News Media reported in June that Aribisala called on well-meaning members of the public for support in the area of hostels. 

Aribisala had said, “As I speak to you, we (FUTES) do not have enough funds. That’s why we keep appealing and going to people because the government cannot do it all alone. 

“We have been visiting some public-spirited people, people who like education, tertiary education. 

“If we have people who want to donate buildings, we are going to name such after them; people who want to give scholarships; people who want to build hostels in such a manner that it is their own and they will take rent and all of those things,” the VC had said. 

Recall that President Bola Tinubu, in March, appointed Senator Binta Garba as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairperson of the Governing Council of the university. 

In a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, Garba is described as a seasoned politician, businesswoman, and administrator who represented the Adamawa North Senatorial District in the Senate from 2015 to 2019 and served consecutively in the House of Representatives from 1999 to 2011.