The Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUT Minna) conferred an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Agriculture on Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago during its 33rd convocation ceremony and 42nd Founders Day celebration on Saturday.
Governor Bago received the award alongside the Governor of Kaduna State, Sen. Uba Sani, who was conferred with a Doctorate Degree in Entrepreneurship, and the Senator representing Niger East, Sen. Muhammad Sani Musa, who was awarded a Doctorate Degree in Technology.
In his acceptance speech, Governor Bago expressed his gratitude to FUT Minna for the honour, stating that the award serves as a call to further his efforts in the agricultural sector. He reiterated his administration's commitment to collaborating with individuals to make education accessible to all citizens.
Governor Bago urged FUT Minna to continue its leadership role in training and innovative research, advocating for stronger ties with the state government to ensure the university's sustainability through agriculture. He also announced a donation of N100 million to an endowment fund created by Senator Muhammad Sani Musa, who contributed an additional N200 million.
Kaduna State Governor, Sen. Uba Sani, lauded Governor Umaru Bago's transformative efforts in the state and thanked FUT Minna for the honour. He acknowledged the institution's significant contributions to technological education in Nigeria and its continued pursuit of excellence.
Vice-Chancellor of FUT Minna, Prof. Faruk Adamu Kuta, described the event as historic, celebrating four decades of excellence in science, engineering, technology, and innovation. He noted that FUT Minna has become a leading institution in technological education in Nigeria, recently ranked as the 8th best university in the country and 2nd among specialized universities.
Prof. Kuta assured that the university would maintain its high standards and acknowledged Governor Bago's support, particularly in providing hostel accommodation for students.
A total of 5,816 graduates emerged from the 2023/2024 academic session of FUT Minna, comprising 4,955 undergraduates, 632 Master's graduates, 105 postgraduate diploma recipients, and 124 PhD recipients.