The collaboration between the Federal University of Technology, Akure, FUTA and the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) Tallahassee, United States of America which started in 2013 has further been concretized with the departure of the 6th set of students for the continuation of their studies in America.
The seven students are Bello Emmanuel Kolawole (Industrial Design Department), Farukanmi Iyanu Deborah (Food Science Technology), Olabiran Boluwatife Samuel (Mechanical Engineering), Babatunde Samuel Abiodun (Building Department), Okunmadewa Adedamola Oluwaseyifunmi (Architecture), Akinrinde Oluwaseyi Oreoluwa (Architecture) and Kola-Adelakin Oluwanbo Samuel (Architecture).
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Joseph Fuwape at the pre-departure send forth and presentation of travelling documents event organized for the students said FUTA has recorded a landmark success in its collaboration with FAMU.
He enjoined members of the Class of 2018 to consolidate on the achievements of their predecessors, urged them to be good ambassadors of FUTA, their parents and Nigeria as a whole, adding that they should ensure they combine hard work with character, and be focused to come out with good grades as this will set a solid foundation for their careers. “You are not just the representatives of FUTA but also of Nigeria. Ensure that you combine good character with excellent learning as this is the hall mark of success,” he added.
Professor Fuwape said those who had gone before them had performed creditably well in character and learning. “I am happy with the success recorded so far with this programme, already 42 students have participated in the FUTA/ FAMU collaboration, and one of them is through with his PhD, and already working with Intel in USA. Others are also making steady progress in different areas of endeavours” Professor Fuwape said. The Vice-Chancellor who was at the graduation of the batch 5 of the FAMU students in the United States of America recently said the Presidents of the University was happy with the success recorded with its collaboration with FUTA..
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Director International Strategy Office, Professor Tom Ofuya said the FUTA/FAMU programme termed 4-1-1 is designed for qualified final year students to complete their first degree at FAMU and later go for their postgraduate in same school.
After completing their final year Undergraduate Programme in FAMU they will earn a FUTA Bachelor’s Degree and go on to complete a one year Postgraduate Program to earn a FAMU Master’s degree. He said the programme will make the students to be more technically and academically sound, therefore the students should be focused. “FUTA is doing this to make you useful to FUTA, yourself, Nigeria and the whole world, therefore you cannot afford to waste this opportunity,” Professor Ofuya said.
Responding on behalf of her colleagues, Farukanmi Iyanu, thanked the management of FUTA for the opportunity given to them and pledged on behalf of other students that they would make their parents, the University and the country proud through good behavior and academic excellence.