Federal University Dutse Attracts N800 million Research Grants
……plans convocation for 4,277 graduates July 5
By: Ahmed Aminu, Dutse
The Federal University Dutse (FUD) in Jigawa State has attracted over N800 million research grants in the last four years, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Abdulkarim Sabo Muhammad, has said.
The Vice Chancellor disclosed this during a pre-convocation press briefing on Wednesday in Dutse.
“In the last four years, FUD has attracted over N800 million research grants and the grants included the N113 million Google Artificial Intelligence Lab established in the university, the first among higher institutions in the Northwest geo- political zone,” he said.
He said that the institution has grown in size and academic programmes since it was established in 2011, with its academic programmes up from 5 to 45, and students population from 202 to 18,000.
Professor Abdulkarim said that the university will hold 8th and 9th combined convocation on July 5, for 4,277 graduates, adding that the convocation lecture will be delivered by the pioneer Vice Chancellor, Prof. Jibrilla Dahiru Amin on the topic ‘Harnessing Research and Innovation for Sustainable Development in Nigeria: The Role of Higher Education Institutions’.
A total of 209 graduates will be awarded a first class degree at the forthcoming combined convocation. The breakdown showed that a total of 1,271 bagged second class upper division while 2,034 bagged second class lower division and 559 got third class degree.
Prof. Abdulkarim announced plans to establish the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, while the Faculty of Law building has been completed and students will be admitted next academic session.
The Vice Chancellor highlighted some of his administration’s achievements to include the N1.2 billion internet broadband facility project by the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy which has provided free wi-Fi services in the university, helping to improve teaching and research among academic staff and students.
“The university recently signed an MOU with the Federal Ministry of Education, and the Rural Electrification Agency to build a 1.6 megawatt state of the art solar grid which will ensure that our campus is powered by solar energy.”
He said some of the projects completed in the university include the new Senate building, Faculty of Law, Library, a twin 250 capacity lecture theatres, STEM classrooms, and two female hostels are among others.
