The Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, has pledged ₦200 million annually for the next five years to support research activities at the Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences (FUTES), Iyin-Ekiti.
Bamidele made the announcement during the institution’s maiden matriculation ceremony, where 1,564 pioneer students were admitted into the 2025/2026 academic session.
He said the intervention would strengthen the university’s academic community, stressing that university education must prioritise research alongside infrastructure development.
The Senate Leader disclosed that FUTES currently operates four faculties, with plans to establish three more. He added that discussions had commenced with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria to meet accreditation requirements for proposed medical programmes.
According to him, a Medical Village is under development at the permanent site, featuring a hospital with an Intensive Care Unit, a diagnostic centre with MRI and CT scan facilities, as well as eye, dental, and kidney care centres.
Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Gbenga Aribisala, said the university began academic activities within one year of its establishment, operating 36 departments across four faculties. He described FUTES as a technology-driven institution committed to innovation, environmental sustainability, and ethical values.
Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji, represented by his Special Adviser on Tertiary Education, commended President Bola Tinubu for assenting to the bill establishing the university, while urging students to prioritise creativity and service over mere certification.
