By Ogenyi Ogenyi,Uyo
The Federal University of Technology,Ikot Abasi, FUTIA, in Akwa Ibom said it has acquired wind tunnel and Aerodrome for the training of students in Aerospace Engineering.
Vice Chancellor, Prof Leo Daniel told Correspondents last weekend that the two facilities would put students of Aerospace Engineering at vantage position to have practical knowledge and embark on research in their chosen career.
Daniel, a professor of Aerospace Engineering from Russian University and Massachusettes Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States disclosed that the facilities are not even available at some Airports in Nigeria adding that the students are fortunate to have them for their practical studies.
“Wind tunnel that we don’t even have in Akwa Ibom Airport will soon be here . And we will have what we call Aerodrome which will be part of the Aerospace Engineering facilities for training and for research as well as other facilities that are coming in to equip this institution.” The VC said.
He explained that the National Universities Commission, approved three schools of Engineering Technology, Applied Science and Information Technology with 12 departments including Cyber Security and Naval Architecture among others for the new School to start with.
“We are a technologically oriented institution with a mandate to build an institution that will bring in other programmes that have not been seen in the past.
“We started with 550 students that were admitted and they just finished their first semester exams for the this session. We have 3 schools with 12 programmes .Among them is the Department of Aerospace Engineering which is my field of expertise .
“It is a research thrust aera we want to build in the Federal University of Technology. Other programmes such as Cyber Security and Naval Architecture are parts of the programmes for the first in Nigeria.”
He said the institution depends on funds from Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) and Akwa Ibom state government who donated land from Ikot Okpo Inua and Ette communities to take off the institution.
Daniel appreciated Akwa Ibom state government for the land and other logistics and requested for construction of internal road network within the campus to overcome coastal terrain of the area.
He said 90 Academic staff with excellent academic records have been recruited while 120 Non Academic staff have been employed to start the university adding more would be engaged as the institution expands.
“We have 90 Academic staff to start the university. Most of them are Senior Lecturers and Associate Professors. We also have 120 Non Academic staff . We will have more in future.” The VC said.
He called for more synergy betiyhe institution and the press to help advertise and promote the ideals of the school.
It would be recalled that FUTIA was established in 2021 by the Federal Government but commenced academic activities in 2022 with 500 students.
