BY UTHMAN BABA-NASEER,MINA
The Federal University of Technology (FUT) Minna has completed and taken over a newly built male hostel dedicated to medical students, marking another major milestone in its preparation for the commencement of medical programmes.
The Vice-Chancellor Prof. Faruk Adamu Kuta dadisclosed this during an interview with journalists, stating that the hostel project began with a groundbreaking ceremony in 2023 and has now been fully completed. He explained that the hostel is reserved for male medical students, in line with the requirements of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, which mandates dedicated accommodation for medical students.
He added that the second hostel, donated by the Executive Governor of Niger State, is currently undergoing renovation and will serve female medical students. The renovation is expected to be completed before the end of the month to ensure that students resume on December 1, in accordance with the university's academic calendar.
The Vice-Chancellor further explained that FUT Minna has already signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Bida, which will serve as the university's primary teaching hospital. Both institutions have jointly written to the Federal Ministry of Health requesting the upgrade of FMC Bida to a full-fledged teaching hospital to be named the Federal University of Technology Teaching Hospital.
“Once the upgrade is approved, the Federal Ministry of Health will assume responsibility for funding, staffing, salaries, training activities, and the maintenance of hospital facilities” he assured.
He also revealed that the university has begun recruiting qualified academics, including consultants who will support the medical programmes. According to him, FMC Bida has more than 60 consultants with teaching experience who will be engaged in the training of students.
Additionally, the Vice-Chancellor announced that the university has procured medical equipment worth one billion naira to support the smooth take-off of the new programmes. The equipment is currently being prepared for shipment from China.
On student admissions, the university noted that interest in the medical programmes has been overwhelming. Over 850 students applied to transfer into the medical programmes within five days, but FUT Minna can only admit 50 students per programme, as mandated by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
FUT Minna is also expanding its academic offerings. By January, the university will invite the NUC for resource verification of new programmes, including Artificial Intelligence, Intelligence and Security Studies, Nuclear Science, Nuclear Engineering, Mining Engineering, and others.
To accommodate the expected increase in staff, the university is constructing 30 en-suite offices, with another 30 to be built after the next TETFund intervention.
Prof Faruk Adamu said the overall goal is to position FUT Minna as a globally competitive institution known for cutting-edge programmes and world-class facilities.
