Federal University of Transportation, Daura, has matriculated 529 new students for the 2024/2025 academic session.
At the event held over the weekend, the minister of Transportation, Senator Said Alkali, reiterated the Nigerian government’s commitment to producing world-class transportation students to address the dearth of human capacity in the transportation industry, with a deep focus on Nigeria’s rejuvenated railway system.
The minister, who also represented President Bola Tinubu at the second matriculation of the university, said while the institution will address the dire need for a transport focused education, training, and research-based, it will also produce Nigerian experts that will utilise policy, law and industry practice to make the transport sector the pride of Nigerian economy.
He emphasised that the government’s commitment is building a new generation of transportation professionals who can compete globally, making the transport sector a critical driver of Nigeria’s economy.
The special adviser to the minister on media, Jibril Umar Alkali, said the minister noted that “FUTD has made significant progress since its establishment, and I take pride in the institution’s rapid growth. The university is the first in Nigeria and Africa to focus on transportation education, training, and research.
“It is our hope and aspiration to produce graduates of the highest quality who can compete favourably with other graduates worldwide.
“We will deliver on our mandate to disseminate specialised knowledge in all modes of transportation to produce Nigerian experts who will utilise policy, law, and industry practice to make the transport sector the pride of Nigeria’s economy.
The matriculating students should be lucky to be in the only specialised university of transportation in Nigeria and Africa, the first of its kind.
You should take advantage of this golden opportunity to be serious so that you will one day become the pride of this University, your parents, and the country at large.”
Also speaking, the vice chancellor of FUTD, Professor Umar Adam Katsayal, in his welcome address, explained that the university was established to safeguard and sustain the enormous investments of the federal and state governments in the transportation sector while bridging the gap in human capacity development in the industry.
He stated that the university strongly focuses on transportation education, training, and research, especially supporting Nigeria’s rejuvenated railway system.
Also, the pro-chancellor and chairman of the FUTD’s governing council, Hon. Wahab Akanni Owokoniran, assured that his council would leave no stone unturned in putting the specialised university on a sound footing.
Dignitaries at the event included heads of tertiary institutions, captains of industry, and the Emirs of Katsina and Daura, represented by Durbin Katsina and Mayanan Daura, respectively.
