By Abdallah el-Kurebe, Editor
The Alumni Association of the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) has renovated one of the oldest hostels in the institution as part of its “Giving Back to the Alma Mata Scheme”.
A statement issued by Adegbenro Adebanjo and made available to Newsdiaryonline on Tuesday said the renovation of Akin Deko Hall costs over N4 million.
“The renovation included the total overhauling of the electrical system, new fittings and tiles, provision of modern conveniences, plastering and repainting of walls and ceilings thereby making it better habitable for students.
The Alumni President, Mr. Olaitan Adesomoju who coordinated the project said “Futarians are known for achieving great feats and this is one of them”.
He noted that to whom much is given much is expected, emphasizing that they had been given much hence they were giving the same measure back to the institution that made them.
He commended members of the Alumni Association for their support that made the renovation possible and reiterated the need for government to be more involved in the provision of facilities to aid learning nationwide while promising that the Association will continue to contribute to the development of FUTA.
Commissioning the project the immediate past Governor, Ondo State, who is also an alumnus of FUTA, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko advocated for investment in the intellectual resources of the nation.
Mimiko said the greatest assets of a nation are its intellectual resources rather than its natural resources as hitherto assumed, hence the urgent need to invest in them.
“Every Nigerian child must have access to education, while tertiary education must be affordable for all who desire it,” noting also that the time had come for Nigerians to stop being consumers of technology and emerge as innovators.
“I have followed the exploits of this Institution. You have scaled the hurdles of being the best University of Technology in Nigeria and I am optimistic that you will be the best in Africa in the nearest future”. Commending the alumni on the gesture of renovation, he said “this is a memorial to your name. This will also instill the virtue of giving back in the benefiting students,” Mimiko said.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Joseph Fuwape commended the Alumni for the gesture of giving back and said that FUTA Alumni were pacesetters who always make the Institution proud.
Appreciating the Alumni, the Hall chair, Ibrahim Raji expressed deep gratitude and commended the University Management for creating the enabling environment for Alumni to contribute their quota to the welfare and well-being of current students.
