FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, AKURE

4TH CONVOCAT·ION ADDRESSES AND SPEECHES 2ND & 3RD NOVEMBER, 1990 ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES, GENERAL IBRAHIM BADAMASI BABANGIDA, CFR, FSS, mni, ON THE OCCASION OF THE 4TH CONVOCATION CEREMONY OF THE FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, AKURE, ON 3RD NOVEMBER, 1990.

Members of the Armed Forces Ruling Council, The Military Governor of Ondo State, Members of the Federal Executive Council, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, The Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Akure Chancellors of other Nigerian Universities, Distinguished honorary graduands, The Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Technology Akure Your Royal Highnesses, Emirs and Chiefs, My Lords, Spiritual and Temporal, Members of Council, Members of Senate, Staff and Students, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen.

THE FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, AKURE AND ITS DEVELOPMENT.

1. The Federal University of Technology, Akure, has made tremendous strides since its inception in September 1981. My warm fel ici tations go to the Chancellor, the Pro - Chancellor and members of the Council, the Vice-Chancellor and his Principal Officers, Members of Senate and the entire staff and students of the University. I want to publicly acknowledge that I have always been proud of this University which has, in the course of its short period of existence, earned for itself the enviable reputation of being a very peaceful, decent and progressive community. There are always available evidence to prove that you have always conducted your affairs in an atmosphere of cordiality, mutual understanding and cooperation. You have established a tradition of peaceful dialogue and maturity in your approach to both internal and national issues. 2. Inter alia, your expansion in terms ~f staff and student population, your achievements in the area of physical development, are all commendabl.e. It will be to your credit to hold fast to this praiseworthy state of affairs. As an administration, we shall continue to improve the academic and w~lfare standards of our Universities within our economic constraints and the competing demands by various sectors of the society. The recent special grants to our Universities attest to our pledge and determination to improve the standard of higher education in the country. 3. Reports reaching me indicate that your University has, ab initio, demo~strated~effectiveness in the returns of vital data for the swift implementation of projects, in accordance with tipulated guideJ,ines. I also know that this University is the first to have fully and ~ffectively utilized its allocation. This is a matter of deligbt TO us all. Not only has your University addressed the issues furwhich,the grant was made; but has also presented the hostels and academic buildings for commissioning Eoday - barely seven months after the release of the grants. I commend the Council and the entire administration for their seriousness of purpose and their executive capacity. ·1. I call upon our other Universities - to which this nation looks for inspiration - to drasticaly overhaul their internal systems and processes and eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks. They should take a cool, hard look at their machineries for the implementation of projects. 5. Apart from the usual award of degrees to graduating students, we are launching your Endowment Fund, commissioning of some of your newly-completed projects and conferring honorary doctorate degrees on worthy and outstanding personalities. You all have, no doubt, worked very hard to make all these possible. Please accept my congratulations. 6. The three personalities who are being honoured today have made immense contributions to the development of this natio~ in the various positions they have held. 7. Chief Samuel Oluwole Asabia, OFR, a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, and Chairman and Managing Pirector of First Inter-State Merchant Bank (Nig.j Ltd., is today being conferred with the honorary degree of Doctor of Letters. 8. Chief E.A. Ifaturoti, the first Nigerian Mining Engineer and the Chairman of African Petroleum Nigeria Limited, has made signif'icant contributions in mining engineering and is today being honoured with the degree of Doctor of Engineering. The last, but not the least, is Alhaji Mohammed Tukur Usman, a fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, a fellow of the Economic Development Institute, Washington, and the Chairman of Julius Berger Nigeria Limited, who is also being conferred with the honorary degree of Doctor of Engineering. I congratulate you all on these well-deserved awards which constitute an attestation of merit and distinction, 'and I wish you many more years of meritorious services to our fatherland. NIGERIA, ITS YOUNG GRADUATES AND THE NEW MILLENNIUM 9. Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, convocation ceremonies such as this are, of course, occasions of joy - particularly for the graduants and their parents. Graduation is the climax of years of hard study. It is the culmination of sacrifice, patience and endurance. I share in your joy and offer my warmest congratulations to the outgoing students whom I understand graduated yesterday. May they continue to be a source of pride to their parents and to this nation. _ 10. The word graduation in the academic context implies a stepping up or improvement or enhancement of one's status. It marks a milestone in the personal and ~cademic development of the indlvidual. Implicit in it is the notion of lobking forward and at this time as our 1990 graduates move into the last decade of the millenn·lum,their ideas, their thoughts and their actions will shape the beginning of the new mill·ennium. This is a challenging and exciting prospect and this is why I have chosen the theme: "Nigeria, its young graduates and the new millennium". 11. Our graduates are moving out into a very different world

4 from the world of the Eighties. World events of the last twelve months will go down in history as the revolution of 1989/90, of no less significance than the French revolution two hundred years before. All over Europe~ ideological, political and economic barriers are being removed. 12. We have to confront the stark reality that we are stepping into a new millennium :a which the ties between European countries and African nations might be seriously weakened. In a sense, Europe is becoming a homogeneous entity; the forces of nationalism which shaped the 19th. century are giving way to internationalism. We in Africa must move with the times. 13. One of the most significant beliefs that this administration has cJung to and which has fashio~ed our economic policies has been the need for self-reliance. In the new millennium, we either embrace this solidly or face harsh consequencies. We are now giving prominence to agriculture, to agro based industries and there is unanimity in our acceptance of the need for our country to be self-sufficient in food production. In addition, our iron and steel industry, our petrochemical industries will place us in a strong position for our much needed technological and industrial breakthrough. 14. What the new millennium may also call for, is a gradual re- orientation of nationalism in Africa and the emergence of our own internationalism. But there has to be a meaningful but brisk graduation in this process. We have to seek self-actualisation as a nation, as a region and as a continent before we can be meaningfully international. With the rapid changes in the world order, a paradoxical sense is engendered whereby all these steps have to be attained contemporaneously. Unless we do this, we shall in the next millennium find ourselves marooned on an island of underdevelopment. 15. The African continent has enormous potential as a huge market to be developed and exploited by Africans themselves. Our regional organisations such as ECOWAS together with the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) must be strengthened for as Europeans are stressing their "Europeanness" so Africans need to stress their "Africanness". Integrated rural development, emphasis upon self-sufficiency and self-reliance, investment in technology and industry, a renewed determination to rid this continent of indebtedness and poverty - these are the challenges that our young graduates must face as they move towards the new millennium.

GRASS ROOT PROGRAMMES: THE LEGACY OF THIS ADMINISTRATION FOR THE NEW MILLENNIUM

16. Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, on our own part this administration has been doing its best to create a oesirable milieu, a solid foundation for the new millennium. I refer here to what may best be described as our grass root programmes. We believe that these programmes have set us on the right path for the future, and we are pleased to identify them as part of the legacy this administration will bequeath to the new order in 1992.

5 17. The Youth Employment and Vocational Skills, the National Open Apprenticeship Scheme and the School on Wheels Scheme are part of the core programmes of our National Directorate of Employment. Theyare targeted at alleviating the scourge of mass unemploymenttin our society where an estimated 75% of our jobless are in fact young people. They are also meant to inculcate the et~os of self-employment which is a strand in our triPOd of EconomIc Reconstruction, Self-Reliance and Social Justice. I commend these programmes to the graduating students of our Institutions. Under God, our salvation is in our own hands. We must work assiduously with our hands and relish the dignity and reward of labour. With the Directorqte of Food, Roads and Rural Infrastructure (DFRRI); the Better Life for Rural Women and similar programmes, it has become clear that this administration's politics, philosophy and economics have been consciously and systematically oriented to grassroots development. 18. The people of this country have, for the past three years or so, been enlightened and educated on their civic duties and rights through the incessant activities of MAMSER, and other agencies of publicity. We can only measure the appreciation of the degree to which the general citizenry has realised the difference between the politics of realism and the politics of deceit by the way in which our people make correct choices at the forthcoming Local Government elections and subsequent ones. However, knowing that Local governments are the foundation upon which the other tiers of government rest, it is necessary that those handling their operations are not just capable but also acceptable to a majority of the electorate. Only when the elected are competent, effective, efficient and honest can they be relied upon to generate and husband the resources that will form the wherewithal for the provision of social amenities at the grassroots. This is why the Federa1 Government has been firm in its insistence that the two registe~ed political parties should be grassroot based. 19. It has often been said that the bane of modernisation in this country is the way the urban centres attract able bodied young men and women, leaving only the aged and infirm on the land. This trend has hqd the result of impoverishment because agriculture which is the mainstay of our people is denied capable hands to sustain it. The present administration has been determined, therefore, to reverse the situation by developing the rural areas evenly through the provision of portable water, electricity, and a good network of roads and telecommunication facilities·Even more importantly, cottage industries have been built intO the package of our industrial policies. The attention being accorded to the implementation of this policy through DFRRI and related agencies will go a long way in improving the well being of the people and make rural life more attractive to our young people. 20. We should consider it incumbent on us all to embrace the ideals of self motivation that can lead to self-actualisation and self-realisation culminating in self-confidence. 6 '~ISON D' ETRE AND ROLE OF OUR UNlVERSI'PIES OF TECHNOLOGY.

21. In fortifying this nation for the next mf Llerm Lum , our Universities of Technology should provide an opportunity to develop and display creative genius and achievements in Science and Technology and to discuss and evolve strategies for moving forward in our quest for technolog.ical advancement. They are to focus attention on the nation's scientific and techn.ological capabilities with a view to further stimulating the desire and effort of our people to utilize scientific and technological knowledge in creating wealth, self-reliance, and in improving the quality of life. 22. ,There -should be the formal, systemic cradles of enduring technological achievements. They are to create new knowledge on a large scale and at a rapid rate - knowledge that is more closely linked with the needs of society as a whole. They are intended to inculcate a science culture and to help increase the influence of science and technology in the thinking and working processes of this nation. Like our conventional Universities, they are expected to go beyond teaching and discussing theories generated elsewhere and to take informed leaps into the unknown. 23. Since our most valuable assets are our human resources, their existence should be specifically oriented to the encouragement of scientific and technological excellence and advancement, as a means of attaining socio-economic self- reliance. 24. Indeed, the experience of the technologically developed countries and the more developed of the developing countries shows that any nation that neglects its scientific and technological development does so at its own peril. 25. In pursuance of this administration's commitment to the promotion of science and technology for national development, we shall continue to place emphasis on those areas of our national development in which we have comparative advantage, given our natural resources. Thus, the utmost priority and emphasis is given, inter alia, to the Petroleum Resources Sector, the Petro- chemical sector, and also to the development of iron and steel and other metallic resources, without which industrial development would be-impracticable. 26. In this regard, the Federal Government is directing its attention and resources to the development of an Engineering Infrastructure that will enable us design, fabricate and mass produce basic maChinery, machine tools, engines, etc. within the shortest possible time. We must now face the challenge of technological development in a methodical stage-by-stage process which is targeted at an ultimate sustainabl~national competence in industrialisation. But in this task, there must be a combined and co-ordinated action between Universities, the private sector, industry, and government, as is the practice in all the more advanced countries. 27. Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, the road ahead to technological self-reliance for the nation is sti 11 far and tortuous. The nation will sink or swim, depending on our individual and collective performance and contributions. As

7 people in an institution on which the nation has invested so much and in whom the nation has reposed so much hope, you cannot afford to fail. You must all re-examine your roles and re- dedicate yourselves to a life of selfless service to your fatherland. There lies the path of honour; there lies the hope for a brighter future for posterity. 28. The expectations of this na~on from the Universities and particularly the Universities of Technology are tremendous. The. momentum of our march to sovereign nationhood, technological self-reliance and economic emancipation rests heavily on you and even though we are glad that many of you are already showing signs of being alive to your responsibilities, the nation is in a hurry to see more positive results. 29. I believe that the new reforms that have recently been introduced to the University system by way of iormulation of minimum academic standards and the establishment of accreditation panels are all meant to keep every University on course and enhance the quality and pace of your performance. Nigeria eagerly awaits reports of major technological breakthroughs that will chart the correct path into the new millennium and ultimately accord us the status of a developed country. I am earnest in hoping and sanguine in believing that our Universities will not let us down. 30. On the part of the Government, we have always based our dreams and aspirations for a better future for the nation on our Universities in general and especially on our specialised Universities of Technology and Agriculture. This is why we have never spared any efforts to improve the conditions of our Universities, within the limits of available resources and in the context of competing demands. We are sometimes irked to find that some choose to misconstrue our limited capability as unwillingness to fully meet the needs and demands of the University system. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

THE NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY SYSTEM: A DISTINCTIVE CHARACTER?

31. Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, the Nigerian University system, consisting o~ conventional, agricultural and technological stands is 42 years old. Together with the milieu in which it has existed, it has variously been a beneficiary of the boom and downturn of our economy, of the relaxing and the tightening of our financial belt. Looking at the growth of Universities from their prototypes in ancient Greece and their formal establishment in medieval Europe, the development of the humanistic tradition in England, the flowering of research institutions in Germany, the introduction of the land grant College in America, the proliferation of Universities in Africa and more recently in Nigeria, we are yet to satisfy ourselves that a distinctly Nigerian University exists here, with an approach that is an organic part of the climate that created and continues to foster it. This is a dilemma that deserves attention and solution. 32. Distinguished Ladies and Gentlement, we should move into the I 21st century, by giving due cognizance not only to the classic 8 doctrine of education which is the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake, but significantly the utilitarian philosophy which esposes the means-end view of human action. We must acknowledge that even the most seemingly esoteric concept could, over time, yield some utilitarian results. 33. Even within specialist faculties, interdisciplinarity should be emphasised, since, for societies such as ours, the much desired manpower should be sufficiently flexible to cope with multifaceted development. We must ensure that our traditional Universities as well as the more recent types - Universities of Technology and Agriculture - all fulfil their raison d'etre. 34. Our Universities of Technology must blaze the ~rail by concentrating on the immediate and the useful and, paradoxically, the long-term and the practical. Then, and only then, can they prove and sustain their relevance to this nation and meet the potentially revolutionary demands of the next millennium.

SOME DISTURBING TRENDS IN _ACADEMIA

35. But, for those goals to be achieved qnd even for the proper functioning of the teaching and learning process and all our universities, it would be unrealistic to put onus only on the students. Conditions precedent exist, which lie outside their control. 36. Their lecturers, the academics of our Universities, need to sustain the pristine demands of their own profession. They are expected to be in loco parentis, to impart truth in its beauty and knowledge in its excellence. Like their predecessors some decades ago, they should not allow extra academic activities to encapsulate most or all of their time. They must be accessible to students who are avid for the acquisition of knowledge; they should exude dedication and understanding. 37. They must appreciate that Lncessant cancellation or rescheduling of lectures, teaching in a few days a corpus of knowledge that should have taken a whole semester to imp~rt, moving to the next semester without marking the scripts or releasing the results of the last examinations - all these and more offer 110 inspiration or positive example but only disillusionment and despair. 38. Our fine corp of devoted and diligent academics can easily identify their lazy and uncaring counterparts. The difference is clear and the students know it. 39. A stop must be put to the disturbing trend o~ students and parents suffering in silence - from the non-challance of some lecturers. 40. Finally, I congratulate the prize winners and ~resh graduates on their academic attainments. Once again, I congratulate each of our distinguished honorary graduands of today. You richly deserve the honours being conferred upon you. It is my hope that in the future you will see yourselves as part of this young University. I ~lso entertain the belief that the graduating students of 1990 will remember this event, and that they will perhaps be inspired to step forward into the approaching decadp and the new m!1lennium with tenacity of

9 purpose and confidence confidence that is rooted in the knowledge that the 21st century belongs to them. It is theirs to explore, to shape and to fashion. 41. May God grant our graduands the wisdom and courage to shape a new and glorious destiny for our country and our continent. 42. Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, I thank you for your attention.

VIS/l OR: G~NERAL IBRAHIM B. BABANGIDA CFR .. f5S., rnni., Com mander- In-Chief of the Armed Forces Federal Republic of Nigeria

10 AN ADDRESS BY THE CHANCELLOR OF THE FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, AKURE H.R.H. ALHAJI (DR) ZULKARNANI GAMBARI MOHAMMED, CFR THE EMIR OF ILORIN ON THE OCCASION OF THE 4TH CONVOCATION OF THE FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, AKURE HELD ON FRIDAY 2ND NOVEMBER, 1990.

Pro-Chancellor & Chairman of the Federal University of Technology, MUTe Honourable Commissioner for Education, Ondo State, Secretary to the Military Government of Ondo State, Your Excellencies, Your Lordships. Honourable Visiting Chancellors and Pro-Chancellors, Visiting Vice-Chancellors, Rectors and Provosts, Our Reverred Traditional Rulers. Members ofCouncil and Senate. Staff and Students. Graduands, Friends of the University .. Distinguished guests Ladies and Gentlemen. I am privileged through the Grace of Allah to be back in Akure after two sessions, when due to circumstances beyond my control, I was unable to be with you at your convocations. In spite of my physical absence, I was always with you in spirit and full of prayers for the success of the University. I wish to welcome parents and guardians of graduating students and congratulate them on the achievement of their children or wards. This year's convocation is unique in that it combines four main events, namely award of first degrees and prizes today, and the conferment of honorary degrees, commissioning of academic buildings and hostel blocks by the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, CFR and the launching of the University'S N50m. cndownment fund tomorrow. These are great events. We thank the President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida for the N20m. grant made to the University and which enabled the University to complete its first phase of academic buildings and construct the students hostel blocks. I appeal to students to reciprocate this good gesture of the Federal Government by continuing to be peaceful and law-abiding as they have done throughout this past session. I salute those of you who have worked hard to merit prizes. I want to ask our graduating students to continue to be a shining example of good behaviour not only to the outside world but to the students they are leaving behind. I want to use this opportunity once again to thank our President and Visitor to

11 the University, General Ibrahim Babangida for his abiding interest in this University, the Military Governor of Ondo State, Navy Captain Sunday Abiodun Olukoya for his ardent support and the good people of Ondo State for their co-operation. Long live FUT A Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

H.R.H.ALHAJIZULKARNAJNIGAMBARIMO~ED Aiyelabowo v, Emir of Dorin CHANCELLOR

12 AN ADDRESS BY THE CHANCELLOR, HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS, ALHAJI (DR.) ZULKARNAINI GAMBARI MOHAMMED, CFR, THE EMIR OF ILORIN, AT THE FOURTH CONVOCATION CEREMONY OF THE FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, AKURE, ON SATURDAY, 3RD NOVEMBER, 1990. Mr. President, Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, Service Chiefs, Members of the Armed Forces Ruling Council; The Military Govemor of Ondo State, Honourable Minister of Education, Honou1't1ble Minister of Science and Technology, Honourable Ministers present, Your Excellencies, Honourable Visiting Chancel/or and Pro-Chancellors, The Vice-Chancel/or, Federal University of Technology, Akure, The Visiting Vice-Chancellors, State Commissioners, Your Royal Highnesses, My Lords, Spiritual and Temporal, Members of Council and Senate, Staff and Students, Graduands, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

First, I wish to thank Almighty Allah for making it possible for me to be here with you today. You will recall that due to unavoidable circumstances I have been unable to attend the last two convocation ceremonies. I am glad and grateful to Allah for sparing my life to witness yet another convocation. Even though I have been physically away these last two years, I have always been with you in spirit and I have been full of prayers for you all and the institution. I am happy to welcome our Visitor, the President and Commander- In-Chief of the Armed Forces, General Ibrahim Babangida, to our University. It is a source of immense joy and encouragement to us that he has deemed it fit to join us on this occasion. On behalf of the University, I wish to thank him and his Government for all they have done for the University. We hope that, under his able leadership, the Government will continue to support us financially and in other ways in order to make our task easy. We promise to do our best at all times to carry out our duties as expected by him and his Government. I sincerely' congratulate the Pro-Chancellor, Mr. G.A.E. Longe, for his reappointment as Chairman and Pro-Chancellor, an evidence of Mr. President's continued confidence in the way he has ably directed the affairs of the University these past years. I am sure that the University has benefitted very 13 much from his wealth of experience and I pray that Allah may grant him many more years-of useful service to this University. I must thank all the members of Council who-have worked with the Pro-Chancellor to see that the work of the University goes on very smoothly. May Allah continue to bless you all. I salute the Vice-Chancellor, Professor A.A. Ilemobade, his Principal Officers and the entire staff and students of the University. They have all played their parts well. I have always received very good news of what is happening in the University and this has given me special joy, as the father of the University. Peace has continued to prevail within the Universityand there is steady progress in all areas of the University'S life. The credit for this certainly goes primarily to the Vice- Chancellor for the high quality of leadership given by him, his able team of dedicated staff, both junior and senior, and also to my beloved children, the students who have always cooperated with the authorities. I appeal to you all to maintain the same attitude and in fact improve on the spirit of a united family which you have always shown. May Allah continue to be with you and bless you abundantly . . t have already Congratulated Our Students who were awarded. their degrees yesterday. They have all worked hard to deserve success .and I rejoice with them and their parents. To our distinguished honorary graduands, I say a big congratulations. You are welcome to the prestigious club of graduates of the Federal University of Technology, Akure. I wish you all more laurels as you offer your priceless services to our fatherland in your various fields of activity. Finally, I thank each and everyone present here today and wish you Allah's mercies as you return to YOUF various stations .

•

14 AN ADDRESS BY THE PRO-CHANCELLOR AND CHAIRMAN OF THE GOVERNING COUNCIL OF THE FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF " TECHNOLOGY, AKUREMR G.A.E. LONGE, CFR ON THE OCCASION OF THE 4TH CONVOCATION OF THE FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, AKURE HELD ON FRIDAY 2ND NOVEMBER, 1990.

Your Royal Highness.Alhaji (Dr.) Zulkamaini Gambari Mohammed, CFR., Emir of Ilorin, Chancel/Of; Federal Universityof Technology, Akurc, The Vice-Chancellor, Federal Universityof Techonology, Akure, Members of Council and Senate, Graduands, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, j" I am pleased to welcome you to the first day of the Fourth Convocation Ceremonies of our University at which first degrees will be awarded to our fourth set of graduands. Tomorrow will witness the commissioning of some of our projects by the President, Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, the conferment of honorary doctorate degrees on three eminent personalities and the launching of a fifty million naira (N50 million-") endowment fund for University. I congratulate the young men and women to whom first degrees are b.eing awarded today. They have demonstrated both in learning and character that they are worthy persons to be awarded the degrees of the Federal University of Technology, Akure. - Here at FUTA, we are developing a reputable University of Technology equal to the best academic institutions anywhere in the world. We give prominence to training which will facilitate the rapid technological and industrial development of this country. We train the minds and hands of students so that those who number themselves as persons who have truly passed through F.U.T.A. may distinguish themselves in the world out there as job-generators rather than job-seekers. The record of our graduates so far is ample testimony to our success in this regard. The University receives excellent reports of the performance of our graduates in the areas where they have been employed. Those who choose to be self-employed after graduation are doing reasonably well. Our new graduands should avail themselves of the various Government-sponsored schemes for self-employment provided by DFRRI, NDE, etc., confident that they have ideas for which financing under these schemes is designed and can establish and manage their own enterprises- I commend the Management, Staff, Students and the" entire University community for their cooperation and understanding which enabled University to witness in the past year, a period of peace and calm. The challenge to our new graduates is to equal or surpass the standards already attained by our past graduates. What do I see as the challenge to the students who they are leaving behind? The primary obligations of the University to its students are: - to encourage the advancement of learning, develop and offer professional programmes aimed at producing matured men and women capable not only of adopting existing technology but also of improving on It and developing new ones - and being in loco parentis, the University provides a conducive environment, avenues and opportunities for good character building or formation. The University expects-the student to recognise the supremacy of the authorities and take due cognizance of the rules and regulations guiding his/her stay and academic pursuit in the University, remembering always to be disciplined. Student Unionism is a means of contributing to the governance of the University and irifluencing decision-making as it affects the students. Students unionism is also an avenue for developing leadership potentialities and qualities. Students should always be ready to contribute to, and identify with the development of the University particularly in areas which they perceive as advantageous to their welfare. Where they have grievances they should present their case to the authorities in a well- articulated for-m.through their leadership. The silent majority should justify the strength of their number by participating in the activities of the students' Union and contributing effectively to the decision-making process during the election of the leadership and at meetings of the Union. The silent majority should realise that they are silent only in the sense that they have delegated the responsiblity to speak on their behalf to the leadership. They cannot abdicate the responsibility to communicate their wishes to the leadership. All members of the Union are entitled to express their own views on issues tabled for discussion. With the challenges posed by the very fact of being a student arid the opportunities provided by the University for character development and academic excellence, students should endeavour to be innovative, creative and resourceful and thereby live up to our motto, 'Technology for Self-Reliance". Thank you. Good luck.

16 AN ADDRESS BY THE PRO-CHANCELLOR AND CHAIRMAN OF THE GOVERNING COUNCIL OF THF FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, AKURE, MR.G.A.E. LONGE, CFR, ON THE OCCASION OF THE 4TH CONVOCATION CEREMONY OF THE FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, AKURE, HELD ON SATURDAY, 3RD NOVEMBER, 1990

Mr. President, Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, General Ibrahim Babangida, Service Chiefs, Members of the Armed Forces Ruling Council, The Military Governor of Ondo State, Honourable Minister of Education, Honourable Minister of Science and Technology, Your Excellencies, Honourable Visiting Chancellors and Pro-Chancellors, The Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Akure, The Visiting Vice-Chancellors, Honourable Ministers and Commissioners, Your Royal Highnesses, My Lords, Spiritual and Temporal, Members of Council and Senate, Graduands, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is my distinct honour and privilege to welcome you once agam on behalf of Council, the Senate, the students and the entire community of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, to the convocation celebrations of our University. This year's ceremony features four major events,_ each of which bears great significance for the University. These are the launching of our Endowment Fund, the commissioning of some of our projects by the President, Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, the conferment of honorary doctorate degrees on eminent personalities and the award of first degrees to our fourth set of graduands. We are very excited and delighted that the President has been able to grace this occasion with his presence. We have looked forward anxiously to this first visit of Mr. President to us. Even though he had never left us in doubt of his deep interest in and support for our University, we had not up till now been able to demonstrate to Mr. President directly what we have been doing here at t Federal University of Technology, Akure. Mr. President, Sir, we are developing a reputable University of Technology here in 'what we persist in describing as our mini- campus when it is really the University over the foreseable future.

17 There have been considerable achievements. in the areas of academic growth and physical development. Unique programmes and degree options have been established with a large orientation towards functionality and academic excellence. Apart from the physical structusres which we .inherited from the Federal Polytechnic now based in Ado-Ekiti and on which a considerable amount has been spent for renovation and reconstruction, other structures have been provided for the effective prosecution of our academic and other activities. We are proud to say, Sir, that our University was specially commended by the Monitoring Team set up by the Presidency to report on the Utilization of the N20 million special grant made by the President to each University for actively mobilizing and completing projects with patently observable high quality of work and supervision. We beat the deadline for the completion of all the projects for which the N20 million was made available. We are grateful that you were gracious enough to agree to commission some of them on this occasion. Next, our special thanks go to the Military Governor of Ondo State, Navy Captain Sunday Abiodun Olukoya, who assumed duties barely two months ago. I wish to seize this opportunity to publicly welcome you to the State on behalf of this University and to pledge our cooperation with you and your administration at all times. The past Governors of Ondo State Lave all been very good and generous to us. Your immediate predecessor in office paid us an official visit not too long ago to see our progress and identify our problems. That visit has been very beneficial to us in many ways. We have no doubt that we may look up to you for the same level of support. Our revered father and Chancellor of the University, His Royal Highness, Alhaji (Dr.) Zulkarnaini Gambari Mohammed, CFR, Emir of Ilorin, has been unavoidably absent on. the last .two consecutive convocations. We are exceedingly happy that he is here with us today. We pray that God may fully restore him into good health and endow him with long life so that he can continue his selfless and invaluable services to this University and the nation at large. To all our other Royal fathers, Honourable Ministers and Commissioners, Chancellors, Pro-Chancellors and Vice-Chancellors of sister universities, my Lords, temporal and spiritual and other distinguished guests, I say a hearty welcome. We deeply appreciate your interest in us and thank you immensely for sparing your precious time to be with us today. I indicated last year that construction work was going on satisfactorily on some school blocks and the University stadium. The projects have now been completed through the generous assistance of the Federal Military Government. During the year, we embarked on the construction of four blocks of students' hostels, the provision of access roads to the newly opened up academic core area of the campus and the erection of an additional overhead water tank. All these, 18 financed partly or wholly through the N20 million special Federal Government grant, have been satisfactorily completed. 'Satisfactory progress is being made in the area of academic activities. Students' population and staff size continue to increase steadily. Academic programmes and curricula are being improved upon daily in line with new academic standards formulated by the National Universities Commission. Credit for our achievements go to God Almighty to whom we are eternally grateful, all members of the University Council for their dedicated and selfless service, and the Management, Staff, Students and the entire University community for their cooperation and understanding. The year has been a very peaceful one without a single incident of students unrest or agitation. A cordial and congenial atmosphere prevailed among the staff considerably enhancing the successful pursuit of the objectives of the University. Mr. President, when you apppointed me Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council in 1986, you asked me to go and interact with the academics. I have found the experience satisfying and rewarding, full of challenges. I am glad of the opportunity to be of service to the nation. I also recall with great pride and satisfaction that you graciously congratulated me in your goodwill message, on the occasion of the second convocation ceremony in 1988 for the continued development of the University in. spite of scarce resources. I could not have achieved success without the support of Council which comprised persons of calibre and dedication. The life of that Council came to an end on July 30, this year and a new one has since been constituted. I was luckly to be re- appointed as its Chairman. In a unique demonstration of confidence, the majority of the members of the old Council have been re-appointed to serve on the new one. However, a few have not been re-appointed to this Council. Among these are Mr. H.T. Inyang, who has been appointed a member of Council of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Allhaji B. Misau, both Government nominees and Mr. Adetunji Akinyotu, a Senate Representative who has so far had the longest record of service on Council having been continuously a member since January, 1983. Council will endeavour to give this University the necessary leadership and guidance for its orderly development into an institution equal to the best institutions of higher learning across the world. My special congratulations go to the Vice-Chancellor, his Principal Officers and all the staff of the University. The Vice-Chancellor has conducted the affairs of the University so creditably that everything has gone on very smoothly throughout the year. He has shown exemplary dexterity in the management of men and materials. His leadership style deriving from his wealth of experience, wisdom and effective interaction with the University community has contributed immensely to the ready cooperation and loyalty. extended to him and his 19 Administration by both staff and students of the University. I thank the staff, junior and senior, who have worked together so well. I commend the students who have, through their leadership, demonstrated remarkable maturity and a high sense of responsibility in their approach to issues. Students must articulate their grievances, if any, allow the authorities sufficient time for a reasoned response and above all continue to be law-abiding. Mr. President, Sir, your government has taken significant steps in the past year to improve the situation in the educational sector in general and the university system in particular. The package of benefits to universities, ro improve facilities and particularly the welfare of students are being vigorously implemented. The Federal government has set out to revive the flagging morale of university staff and students and restore to the universities pride in their primary role as institutions of higher learning where teaching and esearch get due emphasis. The grant of N20 million to each university for renovation of existing structures and completion of on-going projects; the $120 million World Bank loan for the repair and purchase of essential equipment' the acquisition of library books and journals and the training of staff should go a long way in this regard. Adequate funding of .the universities must continue to engage the attention of the Federal Government if the gains of Mr. President's generosity are to be sustained. It is good to know what to expect from Government so you can plan for it. Windfalls wet the appetite for more even where the ability to utilize -the additional funds judiciously and expeditiously may not have been ascertained. Fortunately, FUTA has projects in its approved programme for the 1990-92 . period which only lack funding for the execution. We would be most grateful for any attention to the Federal Universities of Technology, and especially towards our University, in all allocation of special grants for a proper take-off. Besides, we could do with any sums which others are not in a position to utilize immediately. We have shown that we can spend the money well and have something to show for it. We have had no need or urge to cut corners because we have been firmly on course in our project execution. We recognize that cutting corners is an exercise fraught with danger. A concession to urgency may not be adequate justification: subsequently for supposed irregularities. Prompt release of anticipated' funds sho uld facilitate payment to contractors on time and so obviate delays and avoidable escalation of contract sums through claims for variation. We welcome most warmly the recent announcement of a N500.00 bursary to each university undergraduate with effect from the 1990/91 session. This should provide some relief to students, many of whom have been leading a most difficult life on campus. The bursary should be paid promptly. We are pleased that the ban on the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU) has 20 been lifted. We urge the Government to lift the ban on the National Association of Nigerian Students. The entire Nigerian university community must respond positively to good gestures of the Federal Military Government and put firmly behind them the bitterness and distrust engendered by the events of the recent past. The $120 million World Bank loan is a classic example of the unnecessary . troubles which can arise from misinformation, and mistrust of every move of the Government particularly when it was wrongly believed that the prospect of massive retrenchment .had been thrown in as a pre.:Cqildition for a loan. Self-Interest often beclouds judgement. the tasks ahead ·af.the government and the governed alike in this period of transition to civil rule are enormous and deserve undivided attention. . The nation expe-cts of its elite and. persons who ~afl'1;g1rtly claim to be.the intellectuals thoughtful, constructive contributions rtq.cits rapid, political, socio-economic and technological development within an-eavironment of peace . and stability. Theuniversitiesmust ..ot.,-elent in the~T~.tts at addressingthe problems of this ~ion;.:9iti~ .1~ -beCOIlS~t~\1t;'~ntributiOm~d . derive from mature refleetion as··t~leir:..;purpose m)~~e. The otherstde must be heard ou~ with-:an OPeB'~, .however scepti~l one may be of its motives and methods.' . I am pleased to welcome to the fold of our graduates the eminent personallities on whom honorary doctorate degrees will be conferred today. Last year, the honorary degree of Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) was conferred on our host Royal father, Oba Alaiyeluwa Adelegan Adesida III, the Deji of Akure, who received the honour, wearing the cap and crown with great dignity. Our honorary graduands today have been adjudged entirely worthy of FUT A honorary degrees for the contribution which they have made to national development through distinguished achievements in their field. To them all, I say congratulations and a big thank you for accepting the honorary degree of FUT A. We shall hold them up to our students as beacons of light in their quest for self-actualization no matter how humble their beginnings. Degrees have already been conferred on the graduands and chief celebrants of our fourth convocation ceremonies. I wish to take this opportunity to congratulate once again, the young men and women who have devoted themselves assiduously to their studies through the vicissitudes of a student's life in a period of very harsh economic conditions. They have all acquitted themselves creditably both in learning and character. Here at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, we train the hands and minds of the young men and women who come up to the University and develop in each graduate a great potential for technological self- reliance and interest in profitable self-employment'. The aim is to impart to our students theoretical knowledge in 21 the most competent manner and give them practical experience in the field so that they can acquire appropriate skills. They should now avail themselves of the various Government-sponsored schemes for self-employment like DFRRI and NDE confident that they have ideas for which financing under these schemes is designed and can establish and manage their own enterprises. The challenge of every FUT A graduand as he goes into the world is to attain the standard of performance set by his predecessors in the world out there. Allover the country and beyond, FUT A graduates have recorded excellent performance in their fields of endeavour. Is FUTA entirely a success story? No. We are modest enough to acknowledge that we could have achieved much more with better funding. This is the explanation for our launching an endowment fund to which we request you to donate generously. I would like to thank the many friends of FUT A from Ondo State and beyond who have given so generously of their time and worked extremely hard towards making the launching of the Endowment fund a success. FUT A could not have had greater support than they so willingly gave. Mr. President, Sir, the Military Governor of Ondo State, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlement, I thank you for sharing the joys of this occasion with us. Long live the Federal University of Technology, Akure. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

/L- MR. G.A.E. LONGE, CFR, PRO-CHANCELLOR AND CHAIRMAN OF COUNCIL SATURDAY, 3RD NOVEMBER, 1990 .. 22 AN ADDRESS BY THE VICE-CHANCELLOR OF THE FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, AKURE PROFESSOR A.A. ILEMOBADE ON THE OCCASION OF THE 4nI CONVOCATION OF THE FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, AKURE, HELD ()N FRIDAY 2ND NOVEMBER, 1990 The Military Governor of Ondo State, Honourable Chancellor, Pro-Chancellor & Chairman of Council of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Honourable Commissioner of Education, Ondo State, Secretary to the Hi'!itary Government of Ondo State, Your Excellencies, Your Lordships, Honourable Visiting Chance~lors and Pro-Chancellors Visitin~ Vice-Chancellors, Rectors and Provosts, Our Reverred Traditional Rulers, Members of Council and Senate, Staff and Students, Graduands, Friends of the University, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Another year has rolled by and I am privileged and honoured once again to join my Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Coucil in extending a most warm welcome to our distinguished guests, parents, guardians and friends of the University on this occasion of our 4th Convocation. This convocation is unique because it combines a number of events which necessitated our having to spread our activities over two days. Today, first degrees and prizes will be awarded. Tomorrow the President, Commander-In- Chief of the Armed Forces, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, has graciously accepted to commission the first phase of the students' hostel blocks and academic buildings, and watch the conferment of honorary degrees on three eminent Nigerians, namely, Chief S.O. Asabia, Mr. E.A. Ifaturoti and Alhaji (Engr.) M.T. Usman and launch our N50 million Endowment Fund. These events are landmarks for the University and we salute all staff, students and friends of the University who made this possible. The construction of the hostel blocks and completion of the N20m academic buildings could not have been possible without the N20m special grant graciously made available to the University by Mr. President. We are happy that Mr. President not only showed concern about the parlous state of our uLiversities, but did something concrete to ensure that the pride of the past will be restored to the University: We hope we can continue to count on Mr. President's support and understanding. This past session was a very happy one for the University as it marked a very peaceful year totally devoid of any students' unrest and disruption of normal university life. This is well reflected in the significant improvement in the results of the last sessional examinations. We, ther~fore, have reasons first to thank and praise God for this wonderful achievement and to salute the leadership and members of the Students' Union for their maturity and keen "sense of responsibilit~. The University can only develop and progress under an atmosphere of peace and concord. On our part, therefore, we will not· relent in our efforts to exhort students to continue to adopt peaceful means rather than confrontational approach in airing thei"r grievances 23 and in making demands on the University. I will now turneview develQpments in the University in the past year.

1. ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT

1.1 Following the restructu~ing of our programmes some two years ago, four Schools were approved for the University for the period up to 1991. These are the:

(a) School of Agriculture 'and Agricultural Technology (b) School of Engineering and Engineering Technology (c) School of Environmental Technology (d) School of Sciences

The new School of Environmental Technology admitted students into three of its five progamme~ last session, namely: Architecture, Estate Management and Quantity Surveying. This session, we are admitting students into one of the other two programmes, Urban & Regional Planning and Land Development. With the stability of our programmes in the various schools and the availability of some physical facilities, we are in a position to now ask to move into the phase II of our development which, based on our original belief, ought to have started years back, but could not due to financial constraints. Our graduates are making their marks in the areas where they have been employed. Indeed, some of them, true ,toour motto of "Technology for Self-Reliance" have gone into self-employment projects after graduation and a~e doing well. We are proud of them all.

1.2 Examination Results - A total of 195 students are receiving their degrees today and a breakdown in tneclass of degrees is as follows:

Table 1: Results of the degree Examinations 1989/90 Session School 1st 2nd 2nd Third Pass Total class Class Class Class Upper Lower

SAAT 5 10 37 10 - 62 SEET - 4 21 3 - 28 SOS 3 13 71 15 3 105 8 27 129 28 3 195

- 1 L. 24 By the time we add the number of, those graduating today to previous figures we would have graduated a total of 567 made up as follows:

1987 93

1988 143

1989 136

1990 195

Total 567

1.3 Students Enrollment - Last session our enrollment figure was 1,514 spread over 14 pf the 21 States of the Federation and as in the previous year, we achieved a two-thrid geographical spread. We are striving _to achieve greater number from the educationally-disadvantaged States as well as greater geographical spread, conscious of the need, as a federal institution, to recruit students from all States of the federation and Abuja. Our difficulty in achieving greater numbe~ from the educationally-disadvantaged States and greater geographical spread arose from the paucity of students studying science in all the States of the federation and particularly those from educationally-disadvantaged States. Country after country throughout the world are providing a head start for their children in science because in tomorrow's super tech. world, science will be essential for success. It is instructive that in the ranking carried out by the National Science Foundation of America of science student achievement, two developing countries occupy the second and third positions in the first-12 places as follows:

1. England 2. Hongkong 3. Singapore 4. Hungary 5. Japan 6. Poland 7. Norway 8. Australia 9. Sweden 10. Finland 11. United States 12. Canada

Honourable Chancellor, the above is the more reasons why we must put more efforts at inculcating science culture into our system; that is why we commend the Federal Government's policy _ of 60:40 admission ratio in favour of science programmes and the recently announced Federal support for improvement of science teaching in selected secondary schools throughout the country. But we must go further down to the grassroot as we have done for politics - to 25 the primary schools. We applaud the establishment of the Primary School Commission and believe ,that through it, the importance of science will begin to have meaning to our a-year olds, by adequate funding of science to inculcate science sulture in our youths. 1.4 The Schools 1.4.1 The School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology continues to grow in stature both in students enrollment and staff'strength. As part of its staff development efforts, five of the staff are enrolled in the Ph.D'.programme of the School while five graduate assistants are similarly registered in the M.,Tech degree programmes and 2 graduate assistants obtained fellowship awards for postgraduate study in England Belgium. Two of the senior staff were beneficiaries of the Association of Commonwealth Universities fellowship for study visit and another one obtained the fellowship of ICRAF AND Afro-Am~rican Institute for study in both Kenya and the U.g.A. We are grateful to these granting bodies. The School, through its departments, has continued to make itself relevant to the needs of the society. For instance, the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife carried out a comprehensive inventory on wildlife and their habitats in Ifon Games Reserve in Ondo State. It is hoped that this study will assist,the Ondo State Government in further development and management of the reserve as tourism and recreation centre. The Department of Forestry and Wood Technology, through its Wood Workshop is involved in the production of simple furniture for use in the primary and secondary schools and inexpensive furniture for home use. 1.4.2. The School of ~ngineering and Engineering Technology has continued to engage in active research aimed at solving local and national problems. For instance, the Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering has continued to research into the properties of local clays with a view to using them for foundry purposes. Also, efforts to develop refractory bricks from local clay deposits found in commercial quantities in Ondo State, continue with vigour. The success of this work will help to solve the problem of scarcity of refractory linings needed by industries such as in the glass manufacturing, cement, iron and steel and foundry. The Department of Mining Enyierring is also researching into the problems of Mining industry with a view to developing the optimum conditions for mining different minerals such as gold, coal, casserite, kaolin, etc. The Department of Agricultural Engineering has desiqned and constructed a number of

26 1.4.3. The Schpo1 of Science, which is the foundation School of all the schools in the University, continues to offer its services both in teac-hingand research. The School's project on the design and construction of low-cost laboratory and teaching equipment received a boost during the year as a result of high demand for such simple equipment by neighbouring secondary schools. The school is also involved in a programme to popularize mathematics and basic sciences in the State, through the agency of the Ondo State Rradiovision Corporation.

1.4.4. The new School of Environmental Design will, begining this session, admit students into the Urban and Regional Planning programme. All these developments fare indicative of the University's resolve to meet the objectives set for the Federal Universities of Technology.

1.5 Postgraduate Programme~

The University has been allowed by the N.U.C. to run postgraduate programmes in all the schools. We are grateful to the N.U.C. for this. We have, based on the strength of our staffing and on the new facilities that would soon become available, requested that ~e be granted the full status of a graduate, school. As you are aware, the FUTs have important roles to play in the high-level training of personnel bpth for our light and heavy industries and the earlier they are accorded these roles the better for the country. 1.6 The University Library As in previous years, the University Library ws able to maintain a very high standard of performance in all areas of its operations and services. This was due, in large part, to the fact that the University authorities continued to accord it the usual priority treatment that it has always enjoyed since the inception of the University. Even though it had to make do with a slightly reduced level of funding as compared to the imediate preceding two years, it, nevertheless, succeeded in increasing its book stock from 23,000 volumes in the 1988/89 session to slightly over 27,000 as at September, 1990, and our journal subscription is well over 200 core journal titles. We have, until last year, worried over our ability to maintain our level of support for the library especially in an era of diminishing resources, weak Naira and prohibitive cost of books. The lifeline thrown in by the Federal Government through the $120 million World Bank facility for the purchase of laboratory, workshop equipment and library books and journals could not have come at a better time. We appreciate the efforts of the Federal Government in pursuing the World Bank facility in spite of stiff opposition generated by those who seem to have misconstrued the good intention of the Federal Government, .even in the face of the. extent of the deterioration of services rendered by the University in the past several years. We have been able to supplement our book purchases with 27 donations received from individuals and organisations. The most prominent of these donors ws, as in previous years, the British Council, from whom we have received books worth more than £10,000. The Food and Agricultural Organisation also continued to send us at least a copy of every publication issued to them, having earlier designated our library as one of its depositories. Our Educational Technology Centre continued to grow from strength and it is fast acquiring the reputation of a vital and highly valued organ for teaching and research. In addition, it provided video coverage for both official and private ceremonies, through which some revenue was generated for the University. Its stock of sophisticated equipment was enlarged recently with the addition of a transparency maker, which will further facilitate teaching and research in the University. We intend to embark on the building of standard library in our next phase of development. 1.7 Computer Centre ·As reported in my convocation speech last year, that arrangements were being made to acquire new mini-computer with 32 terminals, I am pleased to report that the building of the Centre -hU been completed..and'a new Tower Mi~i Computer·wi th 32 fe'aR1-nalS.'·hasbeep insta.lled.-We''havehad to ..discoont:i.!1u.e-w;i..th a ~E· 3205' Perkin· Elmer mini-computer because of constant breakdowns I lack of spare parts' and high maintenance costs. The Cent,Feserves as a vital laboratory for our programme in Computer Science, ~n research as well as consultancy. You may be interested to know that one of our programmes where fierce competition for admission occurs is Computer Science. 1.8 Centre for Industrial Studies We are planning to start this centre as soon as we have sufficiently overcome the problem of providing basic academic facilities. It is however important that the NUC sees the Centre as crucial to the success of universities of technology in pursuing its objectives, including the specific purpose of fostering technological advance, and therefore make a case to Government for speCial subention of at least N25m. Fortunately we have accepted, through the National Policy on Science and Technology, that technology is the "cornerstone of 'progress upon which Nigeria can depend to attain reliance and self-sustaining development".

2. CAPITAL PROJECTS

I am happy to report that we have made significant progress in our capital development, thanks to the Special Grant of N20m made available to the University by Mr. President. The two academic blocks that were started late in 1988 are being completed with part of the N20m grant while hostel blocks designed to accommodate 440 students ·have been consturcted with the special grant.' These buildings are to be commissioned tomorrow by Mr. President. We are deeply grateful to Mr. President for graciously making this grant available at our 28 critical time of need. The road network on the campus is progressing well and the Sports Field is almost completed. Our telecommunication network has been commissioned and internal communication has been made considerably easier. The 60,000 gallons Braithwaithe tank has been installed and it will now beposeib1e through the water reticulation put in place on the campus to serve the whole campus with wateT.-~romthe storage tank.

3. STAFF WELFARE The University has continued. in spite of its tight financial situation, to support _measures aimed at improving the welfare of the staff These include housing, furniture and vehicle and refurbishing loans. We do hope that the welfare measures for staff will continue to receive urgent attention of the Federal Government to enable us attract the best brains to the University and keep those already on our payroll from brain- drain. THE CLASS OF '90 I must now turn to my students, the graduands of today. When you all started the journey some five years ago, it looked like a long journey. I am sure you can look back today and thank God that you have been part of the ex_periencewhich is F.U.T.A. We therefore, have no doubt that you are worthy in character and learning to be stamped with the seal of F.U.T. Akure. We believe your performances out there will justify the confidence which we have in telling people about the differences between Universities of Technology and the conventional universities. Your training has shown that there is a difference; it is now left to you to show in words and deeds that you are different. All that remains for us is to congratulate you all for your well-deserved success and to wish you God's abundant blessings in the years ahead. Finally, I want to congratulate and thank parents and guardians of the graduating students of today. Some of you have already come to me to deposit their support for our N50 million Endowment Fund which will be formally launched tomorrow by Mr. President and the Chief Launcher is Basorun M.K.O. Abiola. We want to encourage you to be present tomorrow to join us in the launching of the fund. But should it be inconvenient for you to do so, we will only be too pleased to receive your generous donations after the convocation where an official receipt will immediately be provided.

29 -,

Professor A.A. Ilemobade DVM (ABU/lbadan); MS (Oklahoms) Ph.D. (ABU) Vice. Chancellor.

30 ADDRESS BY THE VICE-CHANCELLOR OF THE FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, AKURE PROFESSOR A.A. ILEMOBADE ON THE OCCASION OF THE 4TH CONVOCATION OF THE FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, AKURE HELD ON SATURDAY 3RD NOVEMBER, 1990

The President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, General Ibrahim B. Babangida, Servi~ chiefs Members of the Armed Forces Ruling Council, The Military Governor of Dndo State, ~ilitary Governors of Lagos, Kwara, Dyo, Dgun and Bendel States Honourable Minister of Education, Honourable Minister of Science & Technology, Secretary to the Federal Military Government, Honourable Chancellor, Pro-Chancellor & Chairman of Council of the Federal.University of Technology, Akure Honourable Commissioner of Education, Dndo State, Honourable Ministers and Commissioners, Secretary to the Military Government of Dndo State, Your Excellencies, Your Lordships, Honourable Visiting Chancellors and Pro-Chancellors, Visiting Vice-Chancellors, Rectors and Provosts, aur Reverred Traditional Rulers, Members of Council and Senate, Staff ond Students, Honorary Graduands, Friends of the Dniversity Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentle~n, Another year has rolled by and I am privileged and honoured once again to join my Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council to extend felicitations·to our distinguished guests on the occasion of our fourth convocation. As we look back at this past year, we have cause to thank and praise God for His Goodness and Mercies over all of us. While it is customary on an occasion like this to pay homage to some of our dignitaries present at our convocation, I am doing so in all sincerity not because it is customary. First, I pay homage to our respected Visitor, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, General Ibrahi~ Badamasi Babangida, CFR, who is present with us today. We have looked forward to this opportunity and feel honoured that we could play host to him in our humble environment which we have technologically transformed. We regard your presence' amongst us, Mr. President, as a reflection of your continued support for science and technology. True to Nigeria'S National Policy on Science and Tecml010gy that technology is the "cornerstone of progress upon which Nigeria can depend to attain self-reliance and self-sustaining development~, Mr. President has always been in the forefront of ~racticalising that policy. Two very recent examples will suffice. At the opening of the 3rd National Science week code-named NASTECH '90 held on October, Mr. 31 President disclosed that the Federal Government had opened up dialogue with the private sector with a view to taking advantage of the technologies developed in Nigeria and assured private investors want ing to commercial ize invent iorrs of research institutes, and I believe also, of Universities, of concrete Federal .Governrnenj support. At the commissioning of Dun Lo p Nigeria Industries N300m, steel radial tyres plant in Lagos also in October, Mr. President announced a ban on Federal and State Governments' agencies from purchasing foreign manufactured goods which are produced in Nigeria. These and many others, are cheerlng developments for science and technology in Nigeria and, in particular, for the universities of technology which are a major instrument for the acceleration of Nigeria's technological emancipation. We deeply appreciate Mr. President's abiding interest and faith in the universities of technology. Next I pay homage to our new Military Governor in Ondo State, Navy Captain Sunday Abiodun Oluk6ya who, soon after assumption of duty in the State, took more than passing interest in the development of the University. I recognise the presence of the Military' Governor of Bendel State who have honoured us today with his presence in spite of his multifarious duties. I also recognize the presence of the-Honourable Minister of Education, Professor A. Babatunde Fafunwa, who has continued to push, with admirably great vigour, the case of improved education at primary, secondary and tertiary levels. He has been particularly understanding of our peculiar problems and our needs as a University of Technology. We deeply appreciate the Minister's concern and support. Next I would like to acknowledge the presence of the Honourable Minister of Science and Technology, Prof. Gordian Ezekwe whose presence here we would like to believe is an assurance that his Ministry will continue to get closer to the Universities of Technology. I also recognize the former Governor of W~stern Region, Major-General Adebayo and former Governor of this State, Ch i ef Michael Adekunle Ajasin, Retired Navy Commodore M.B.Otiko and Navy Captain Olabode Ibiyinka George and thank them for their continued interest in this University. I wish to pay homage to our reverred Chancellor, His Royal Highness, Alhaji (Dr.) Zulkarnaini Gambari Mohammed, CFR., the Emir of Ilorin who, for unavoidable circumstance was unable to be present wi th us in the last two convocations. We are happy and thankful to God that his health has i~proved considerably. His support and wise counsel have been a great tower of strength to the University and all we can do is to pray that God in his infinite mercies will restore full health to him. I welcome our Kabiyesis from near and far and thank them for honouring our invitation to be present at this convocation. We deepl appreciate their love and goodwill for this University. I wish to recognize and welcome, in particular, today two eminent Nigerian~ Basorun M.K.O. Abiola and Alhaji Aliko Mohamme, Dan Iyan Misau, who continue to do us proud. Basorun M.K.O. Abiola, 14th Aare Onakakanfo, a philanthropist of no mean order has in the last few years, given more than N30m. in grants

32 to the Nigerian universities and Polytechnic as support for students welfare, academic publications ~nd physical development. We are fortunate to have him here as our Chief Launcher for today's endowment fund launching. Alhaji Aliko Mohammed, Dan Iyan Misau is a distinguished Nigerian who has ~erved in the different theatres of the Nigerian business scene, and is the Chairman of our endowment fund launching today. By sheer coincidence both Alhaji Aliko and Basorun Abiola are chartered accountants. We heartily welcome them and thank them for finding time to be with us. Our honorary graduands of today deserve special mention. Whilst not trying to pre-empt the University Orator, it is probably pertinent to state that Chief S.O. Asabia, Alhaji M.T. Usman and Mr. E.A. Ifaturoti have shown, as we would like our students to see, through their distinguished public lives that education of the head must be combined with education of the hand to achieve greatness. It can be said to them that they came, they saw and they conquered. The University salutes them. Last but by no means the least, I recognize and welcome all Chancellors, Pro-Chancellors, the Chairperson of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors, Professor Grace Alele-Williams and my brother Vice-Chancellors, Rectors and Provosts or their representatives whose presence here has added so much glamour to this ceremony and is a testimony of their continued goodwill fur us. Yesterday,- Mr. Visitor, at the convocation for the award of first degrees, I said that this year's convocation is unique, combining four major events, namely, the commissioning of students' hostel blocks and academic buildings by Mr. President, the award of first degrees, the conferment of honorary degrees on three eminent Nigerians and the launching of the University's endowment fund. These events in themselves may, to an older university appear commonplace, but to a toddler, 9-year old University and in particular a University of Technology, they are significant events and we would like to recognize and welcome all our distinguished guests and thank them for finding time to share in our joy and for being partners in progress. The last Governing Council of the University, unlike the two Councils before it, served o~t its full term, and gave dedicated and selfless service to the. University. Under the leade~ship of Mr. Gray Longe, CFR., the Council was a source of consistently good advice and counsel for management; accountability was its watchword. Management could not have wished for a better Council. We are happy that Mr. Gray Longe as well as most of the members of that Council were reappointed. We congratulate them as well as the new members, Prof. Deborah Ajakaiye, Prof. Fubara and Dr. Adetunji for well-deserved appOintments. I now wish to turn, Mr. Visitor, to developments in the University in the past year.

ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT Students' Enrqllment

Our total student enrollment last session was 1,514 out of whom 195 graduated yesterday with 8 in the first class, 27 in the 33 second class upper division, while 129 passed in the second class' low~r division, 28 in the third class division and 3 obtained the pass degree. We expect at the end of this year's admission exercise to have a total enrollment of approximately 2000 students. While merit continues to be an important criterion for our admission, we have never lost sight of the need, as a Fed(~ral institution, to attract students from all the States of the Federation, including Abuja. Last session, we enrolled studE~nts from 14 out of the 21 States which is exactly two-thirds of the States. We are striving hard to achieve greater spread but it has been difficult to recruit students with science background (specifically mathematics and physics) from, especially, educationally disadvantaged States. Although our enrollment of female students has improved slightly, the ratio of female to male students still remains low, being approximately 1:6. While we pledge to increase our effort~ in the years ahead to improve on this ratio, we appeal to parents to encourage their daughters to study science. The Government policy of encouraging the study of science through the 60:40 ratio in favour of science-based programmes will eventually have salutary effect not only on the admission of females to science-based programmes but also on the possibility of encouraging students from educationally- disadvantaged States to study science. The recent announcement by the Federal Minister of Education that N450m. has been approved by the Federal Government to be used to improve science teaching in selected secondary schools in all States of the Federation will certainly improve the science background of the pool from which we draw our students. We have, up to date, graduated a total of 567 students (93 in 1987, 143 in 1988, 136 in 1989 and 195 in 1990). Our graduates have continued to prove their competence on the field~ demonstrating the type of training we offer here (i.e. education of the head and hand) and are justifying our expectation of "technology for self-reliance". We believe that the recurring arguments about the difference between conventional universities and universities of technology will not be settled by the type of programmes we run, not by the curriculum we adopt but eventually by the calibre of students we turn out. The reports we have continued to receive from the employers of our graduates and those graduates on self-employment have been cheering: they assure us that we are on course.

Students' Unionism

The initial reluctance of many students to join the students union and participate in its affairs because of its voluntary nature and the past experience of its confrontational postures has, to a great extent been overcome, thanks to the mature leadership which emerged last session. As a result we have been able to commence and end the 1989/90 session without any disruption of normal university life. We commend this development. Students' union leadership should continue to see students' unionism as a means of contributing, through constructive means, to the governance of the University,

34 influencing decisi<;m' that affect them, and as an avenue for developing leadership potentialities and qualities. Members of the Student Onion body especially the usually silent majority must organize and mobilize themselves in such a manner to openly prevail on the leadership to always choose the path of dialogue rather than confrontation with the authorities, no matter how justified they consider their cause. On our part, we will continue to encourage responsible union leadership and take immediate steps to ensure that complaints are promptly handled. After all, we all have a stake in the future of the University and it is under an atmosphere of peace and concord that the University can develop and progress.

A cad e m i c P ~r 0 g ram m e s

Our academi.c programmes after the restructuring carried out some two years ago have stabilized. We now have four schools, namely: (a) Agriculture and Agricultural Technology, (b) Engineering and Engineering Technology, (c) Environment Technology, and (d) Sciences

All the programmes in the schools are being vigorously pursued and the minimum academic standards which the National Universities Commission (NUC) recently introduced in the university system are being implemented with effect from this session. We have continued to pursue, very vigorously, the implementation of our postgraduate programmes in order to support our staff development effort. We have continued to recruit for our staff development programme more graduate assistants, most of whom are our graduates. This is because of our belief that unless we maintain the tempo in the training of our academic staff, we shall continue to suffer inadequacy in our academic staff requirements, especially in critical areas of our programmes. Our research efforts continue to attract the support of national 'and international organisations, for example, the Commission of European Communities (EEC) is supporting a project in the control of African Animal Trypanosomiasis in Nigeria to the tune of about N11.6m. and the University is one of the six centres where the research is being carried out. The International Foundation of Sciences is supporting three projects being carried out in the School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology. The Presidential Task Force on the formulation of a~ternative feed rations supported research activities in fisheries and poultry, resulting in the development of alternative low-cost feed rations for fish and poultry. The support received from Union Bank of Nigeria enabled the Post- Harvest Technology Programme to design and fabricate multipurpose house-hGld silos which can store four different grains at the same time; ·a solar dryer for small-scale farmers and a maize dehusker/sheller. The Ondo State Government through the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Ondo St.ate Branch, is supporting the desi.9.n_

35 and construction of a water hyacinth harvester to the tune of N200,000.00 in the Department of Agr,icultural Engineering and a private company is supporting the development of asmall-scale cocoa processing machine. Many other agricultural implements and machines like garri frier, cassava harvester and cassava peeler, maize dehusking and shelling machine, seed planter and seed oil extractor have been developed. We contin~e to assist the Better Life Programme in the State through advise and production of simple agricultural implements. Universities of Technology are capital and equipment intensive: Some machines and equipment needed for teaching and research are often not available locally and when available, their prices are prohibitive. As away of overcoming some of these problems, and in line with the Nation's Structural Adjustment Programme, the University started to develop some needed teaching and research equipment. For example, a soil tillage dynamic equipment for the study of soil has been designed and installed; just as a pneumatic separator for the pneumatic clearing of seeds and grains. UNIVERSITY LINKAGE

A linkage arrangement is being worked out with the Cambourne School of Mines in England with the support of the Overseas Development Administration and the National Universities Commission. Our University is the only one in the country offering Mining Engineering at the undergraduate level and we are fortunate to be able to have one of the oldest mining institutions in the world as a partner in progress. It is expected that the linkage programme scheduled to commence before the middle of 1991, will involve-exchange of staff and graduate students, provision of small equipment, and joint development of consultancies. We are deeply grateful to the British Council in Nigeria for their support in arranging this linkage. CAPITAL PROJECTS I am happy to report that we have made significant progress in our capital development, thanks to the special grant of N20m. to each Federal University, graciously made available by Mr. President in March this year. The construction of two academic blocks which started late in 1988 was almost stalled by the end of 1989 because of the level of our funding by the NUC and the escalation of prices which occurred soon after the award of the contracts was made. We needed Nllm. to complete the project and the N20m. special grant could not have been made at a better time. The two academic.blocks were officially ,commissioned this morning by Mr. President to whom we are eternally grateful. In my speech to cbhvocation last year, I made a strong plea for the building of permanent students' hostel on campus, in addition to the temporary ones we inherited from the Polytechnic. I am happy to be able to report that approval was given for us to spend about N7.8m. of 'the Presidential special grant:on the construction of new students' hostel blocks, to accommodate a total of 440 students. The proJect consist of 3 bungalow-type hostel blocks for men and one 2-storey hostel block for women. These also were commissioned this morning by Mr. President. I have already placed on record the University's appreciation of the hardwork and dedication of our Physical Planning Unit, headed by Rev. Architect Agbelusi who designed and supervised the construction of the hostel blocks, his associate consultants, and the coniractors; also the consultants and contractors of the academic buildings. The water project is almost completed. However, since bore- holes are stand-by sources of water, the University is looking into the possibility of a dam as a source of permanent domestic water supply. The sports complex has almost been completed and we look forward to putting it into immediate use once it is handed over to us by the contractor. The completion of the road network on campus has been hampered by the incessant rains in the last couple of months, but we are confident that once the rains have stopped, it will not take more than three months for the contractor to complete the project . .1 should again, while on the issue of capital development, plead with the. National Universities Commission to take a further look at the funding of Universities of Technology in terms of capi tal development and equipment acquisition. We certainly appreciate the concern of the Federal Milftary Government about the deterioration of facilities in the Universities and Government's resolve to bring about a turn-around through extra- budgetary allocations for the completion of on-going projects and rehabilitation on of, facilities, the provision of $120m. through the world Bank special facility for the purchase of equipment, books and journals and of course we look forward to the supply of photocopying machines to assist staff and students in their teaching, research and learning process. If as our National Policy on Science and Technology states, that technology is the "cornerstone of progress upon which Nigeria can depend to attain self-reliance and self-sustaining development" and if Universities of Technology· must, as stated in their objects,- be-- expected to develop appropriate technologies for the utilization of our agricultural and mineral resources, then their level of funding both capital and recurrent must reflect these expectations. Indeed our University did not have much of a take- off capital grant and therefore suffered initial difficulty in our capital project development. We would therefore hope that our peculiar situation will receive sysmpathetic consideration in fund allocation.

Debt Settlement

Mr. President, we want to thank you and the Government for settling the small debts owed some, consultants by us. This gesture was deeply appreciated by the affected consultants. The Nam. debt which represents the compensation on the University land on the Akure-Owo road is still outstanding against us. We did make a submission to the Debt Settlement Committee some two years ago and were hopeful our case would be sympathetically'

37 considered. Up till now, however, no payment has been made. The owners of the land have become restive and the State Government has been able to calm troubled nerves by asking for patience. We continue to trust that the Federal Government will bail us out. We are grateful to the Ondo State Government for the steps taken on the issue of Certificates of title on this land and the present mini-campus and trust that all issues pertaining to the title of our .landswill be resolved before this year runs out.

STAFFING Our staff continues to increase both in number and quality. There are, however, certain areas of our mandate where the paucity of staff continues to be a problem. In such areas, we have geared up our s~aff development programme to enable us bridge the gap. Last year, we bade farewell to our poineer Registrar, Dr. Osanyinbi whose place has since been taken by a. capable administrator in the person of Mr.Babatunde A. Adebayo. Mr Adebayo was first employed in the Federal University of Technology Akure in 1983, as Principal Assistant Registrar having previously served in the Registry Department of the University of Lagos for several years. At the time of his appoLrrtmerrt , he was the Director of Academic Planning of the University.

UNIVERSITY FINANCIAL RESOURCES In our efforts at generating additional funds for the University, Council recently approved that FUTA CONSULTS, a consultancy arm of the University be incorporated as a limited liability company with a share capital of N250,OOO. The processes of incorporation have almost been completed. Prior to that, FUTA Consults has been able to secure consultancy and construction contracts from the University, the State and Local Governments and private enterpreneurs. The Consult has made contact with a number of Federal Government agencies as well as the industry to offer our expertise in their areas of need and we are hopeful that such contacts wi 11 soon yield dividends. It must, however be appreciated that unless there is a deliberate Government policy to assist· the Universities in their fund generation efforts through the provision of seed money, the expected returns may not provide sufficient funds to meet the expectation of Government. As I reported in my last convocation address, it was planned to launch the University Endowment Fund because it had become obvious to us that the level of government funding was inadequate for the realization of the objectives of the University of Technology. The University then felt that the launching of our endowment fund was one of the legitimate choices open to it for raising funds. However, because University people are not considered good fund raisers, the help of eminent Nigerians who could give freely of their time and wide experience in the drive for fund generation, was enlisted. We were particularly fortunate to have Mr. Ade Ojo as the Chairman of the Endowment Funj Launching Committee anQ the following eminent Nigerians ~s members:

38 Engr. Ife Akintunde Vice-Admiral Akin Aduwo (Rtd.) Major-General A. Aduloju(Rtd.) Lady Deborah Jibowu Chief (Mrs.) A ..M. Osomo Chief Adetona Balogun Chief (Mrs.) Olufunke Iluyemi Chief Gbenga Akinnawo Chief Olu Adegbite Arc. Olu Agbesua Mr. Olu Adewumi Chief N.O.I. Ogunmakinwa, representing the State Government. These eminent persons, including our representatives on the Committee led by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Prof. Adeyemi have worked with single-mindedness to attract potential donors to our endowment fund launching. Indeed Mr. Ade Ojo, the Chairman of the Endowment Fund Launching Committee virtually took a sabbatical leave in the last six months from his work to devote more attention to raising funds for us. He has refused to be confered with a Chieftaincy title but with your permission, Mr. Visitor we will refer to him as Chief Fund Raiser. We are sincerely grateful to him and members of the Committee for their labour of love. They have assured us that we would not only hit the N50m. target but would indeed exceed it. Hon. Visitor permit me to ask all the members of the Endowment Fund Committee to rise and be recognized. DEVELOPMENT IN INDUSTRY AND UNIVERSITIES OF TECHNOLOGY Today, three major groups of technologies, namely: information and communication technologies, biotechnology and advanced industrial materials, collectively referred to as "enabling technologies" are revolutionizing industry around the world. They are responsible for creating a multitude of new products and services and transforming production methods in almost every sector of the economy. Nigeria is not able at the present to participate in any significant way, in this endeavour due to lack of forum where the Federal Universities of Technology (FUTs), the agencies of Government concerned with Science and Technology, the private sector and the industry can rub minds. We, however, cannot afford to go into the 21st century, which is just ten years away, still subservient to the technologies of the developed world, and even in some cases developing world like India and several countries in South East Asia. Developing the capability in -the enabling technologies depends however, on appropriate designs and manufacturing facilities. That is where the Universities of Tech~ology, established to serve as a catalyst for the manufacture of technologies come in. The FUTs, Industry, financial institutions and labour organizations along with the Federal Ministries of Science and Technology and Industry and the ~ndustrial Training Fund must foster strategic partnerships capable of devising strategies for the generation 39 and application of enabling technologies. These strategies must focus on specific goals for the next ten years. The President, as noted earlier, has already blown the whistle for us to begin. The time to begin is now. The FUTs can be helped a gr~at deal in this endeavour if the centre for Industrial studies planned for them and approved in their academic brief can now be brought to fruition. BENEFACTION

The University continues to be grateful to the Union Bank of Nigeria for its support of a Chair of Agricultural Technology to the tune of NlOO,OOO per year. The Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) Multipurpose Co-operative Thrift Society, the Nigerian Breweries, the Ondo State Farmers Congress, Livestock Feeds and FUTA Womens Club and His Grace, Rt Revd. Adetiloye, the Anglican Archbishop of the province of Nigeria continue to support prizes -which they endowed. Recently, Rt. Hon. Dr. Akinola Aguda, an eminent jurist endowd a prize in workshop practice for the best student at the 100 level. Chemical and Allied Products Ltd. continues to support a scholarship in Mining Engineering in the University. We are grateful to these benefactors. The University has continued to benefit from book donations from the British Government through the agency of British Council in Nigeria for which we are deeply grateful. Several International Organizations and Centres have assisted us in various ways including the provision of Research Funds, support for staff development etc. These include the Commission of European Communities (EEC), Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Triests, Italy, International Livestock for Africa (ILCA) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and International Laboratory for Research on Animal Diseases (ILRAD) in Nairobi, Kenya. The University has continued to receive support from successive Governors of Ondo State for which we are grateful. Finally, Our Dear President, the Military Governors, your Excellences . Your Highnesses, My Lords, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, I thank you all for your patience wish you God's travelling mercies as you return to your different destinations and His abundant blessings this year and throughout the coming year. .

40 CITATION ON THE CONFERMENT OF THE NONORARY DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF ENGINEBRING (D. ENG) (HONORIS CAUSA) ON ENGR. TUKUR USMAN, OFR; MICE; I'HSE; ~IN KATSINA. Engr. Mohammed Tukur Usman was born on 7 February, 1932 in Katsina. In conformity with tradition, he was sent away from horne at the age of two to live with his maternal uncle, Alhaji Musa Yar'adua, a former Federal Minister of the Second Republic. Alhaji Musa Yar'adua was a School teacher and a yery strict disciplinarian who inculcated in the young Usman a very strong sense of discipline and commitment to goals. He attended the Middle school and was sometime under the direct tutorship of his uncle. From the Middle School, he proceeded to the famous Barewa College in Kaduna where he obtained the Cambridge School Certificate in 1949. At the completion of his secondary school education, he was set to take up a readily available appointment, as was the usual practice, in the Katsina Local Authority. But, by accident of history, he met a young man, Kayode Sonuga who had just completed the first tier of PWD training and had been posted to Katsina on practical attachment. He, it was who introduced the young Usman to the aandwic.i programme of the PWD Training School, the programme that was to provide a headstart for an Engineering education in England. From 1953 to 1957, he studied Civil Engineering at the Brighton Technical College (now University of Sussex) and was admitted into the membership of the Institute of Civil Engineers. He did his engineering pupillage in England under the Engineering firm of Freeman. Fox and Partners in London. Engr. Usman returned to Nigeria and took up appointment as Executive Engineer Grade II in the Northern Nigeria Public Service. He did a brief spell in the Nigerian Ports Authority to where he was transferred in 1961 as a Civil Engineer. From 1963 to 1968 when he was transferred to the Federal Public Service, he held variously the positions of Provincial Engineer (1963-1965); Deputy Chief Civil Engineer (1965) and Chief Civil Engineer (1966-1968). Having worked in the various cadres of the Engineering profession he was promoted in 1971 as Assistant Director (Works) in the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing and in the following year was appointed Director, Federal Public Works. Engr. Usman was involved in unprecendented development of construction of roads and bridges ever witnessed in this country. He was actively involved in the formulation and the

implementation of both the Second National Development Plan I, (1970-1974) and the Third National Development Plan (1975-l980) which laid appropriate emphasis on the land transport sector especially within the sub-sector of highways which then accounted . or over 70 percent of the movement of goods and services in thiE country. The period immediately after the Civil War marked a period of massive rehabilitation and reconstruction. Engr. Usman recalls that he took an inspection tour of the war-ravaged areas in the east and found that a lot had to be done rehabilitating and reconstructing damaged structures and roads. It also coincided with a period of unprecedented oil earnings, the price of oil having jumped from $12 to $38 in one night, which enabled 41 government to embark on massive development. This marked increase in the financial ability of the nation to cope with massive development demanded the best that Engr. Usman c~ld offer as the Director of Federal Public Works. He not only accommodated this massive development in his stride but rose to become the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing in 1975. The Ministry under his control and direction acted as Consultant to the Federal Government in all technical matters relating to physical development and advised government in the renegotiation of several contract agreements entered into by other Federal Ministries with a view to making substantial reductions in the contract amounts. Some such projects where contracts have had to be reviewed include the civil works of the Iron and Steel Industry in Ajaokuta, the Goronyo Dam Project, the Lower Anambra Irrigation Project, the Lake Chad Irrigation Project, the Mada River Project for the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Onne Port Project for the Nigerian Ports Authority. In addition was toe rapid development of the Federal Road Newtworks and the construction of Federal Government Secretariats in all the States of the Federation, and the Cadastral, topographical and Geodetic surveys undertaken by the Federal Surveys Department. Engr. Usman retired from the public service in March 1980, having devoted about 30 years of his working life to public service. In recognition of his significant contribution to national development he was honoured by the nation with the distinguished order of the F.ederal Republic of Nigeria (OFR) in September 1979. Although retired , his rich experience in public service was tapped constantly from time to time in the several assignments to which he had been assigned as: Member, Presidential Commission on Parastata1s (Onosode Commission) Chairman, Panel on Maintenance of Public Institutions Chairman, National Board for Technical Education Chairman, Katsina Steel Rolling Company, Katsina His contributions are not limited to the public sector of the Nigerian economy. He has provided leadership in the private sector notably as Chairman, Julius Berger (Nigeria) Limited, the largest and most efficient construction firm in Nigeria; Chairman, Spring Waters (Nigeria) Limited, producers of the first natural spring water in Nigeria and Executive Chairman, Muradi Bote1s Limited, a company now engaged in building the first hotel of international standard in KatsinaState. He is also Director of both the AGIP (Nigeria) Limited and the NCR (Nigeria) Limited and an Executive Director of The Hamada Carpets (Nigeria) Limited, manufacturers of high quality carpets. Honourable Chancellor, these are indeed noble achievements of national dimensions. As Chairman of the National Board for Technical Education, Engr. Usman brought about significant development in the academic structures and the physical environment of the nation's Colleges of Technology and Polytechnics. As Director of Public Works and Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, his contributions to the construction of Federal highways as major carriers of 42 goods and services are phenomenlli Engr. Usman is an achiever, a rare professional for whum the theory and practice of Engineering are synthesized in positive national development and resolved in the improvement of the quality of life of the common man. His simple life style, welded into a highly productive professional life provides inspiration to on-coming professionals. Engr. Usman was honoure~ in March 1989, for services rendered to Nigeria in general and to Katsina in particular with the traditional title of SANTURAKIN KATSINA' by His Royal Highness, Alhaji Muhammadu Kabir, The Emir of Katsina. Honourable Chancellor, it was in consideration of the contribution of Engr. M.T. Usman to the Engineering profession and of his effective combination of the theory and practice of Civil Engineering for national development that the Council and Senate of this great University jointly and unanimously decided to honour him. It. is therefore my honour and privilege to present to you Engr. Mohammed Tukur Usman, OFR;MICE, FNSE for the conferment of the degree of DOCTOR OF ENGINEERING (D. ENG) Honoris Causa.

CITATION ON THE CONFERMENT OF THE HONORARY DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF ENGINEERING (D. ENG) HONORIS CAUSA ON MR EZEKIEL ADEKUNLE IFATUROTI B.Sc (ENGINEERING) MINING; ENG; FIMM.

Mr. Ezekiel Adekunle Ifaturoti was born in Epe, Lagos State on October 16, 1920. His paternal grandfather, IFATUROTI, was a prince of Ijesaland, son of OWA ODUNDUN and a close war associate of the Kiriji War Veteran, OGEDENGBE of Ilesa. His father, Emmanuel Adegbo1a Ifaturoti, born February 6, 1881 escaped from home in 1898 for exposure to the new world in Lagos. There, he completed a formal education in 1906 and joined the Health Department as Sanitary Inspector (Trainee) in 1907. He served in that deparrnent for 34 years before he retired in 1941. His mother, Christianah Aina George was born in mid- August 1900 to Chief Kekere-Awo of Ilofin I1esa and given up to the Church Missionary Society (CMS) for education in 1910. Both parents of Mr. Ezekiel Adekunle Ifaturoti were first generation christians who had acquired formal education at a time when most of their contemporaries lacked education and the opportunities brought about by embracing the Christian faith. Mr. E.A. Ifaturoti's primary education took him across the southern part of the country, from Epe in Lagos, through Ado- Ekiti and across the east to Uzuakoli. Because his father was constantly transferred from one station to another, his primary education spanned a total bf nine years. He was one of the foundation students of Christ's School, Ado-Ekiti in 1935 named Ekiti Middle School in his days. He however completed his I secondary school education at the Government College Ibadan where he obtained the Cambridge School Certificate in 1942. He attended Glasgow University between 1946 and 1951 and graduated BSc (Engineering) Mining in 1951. He also obtained the Diploma of the 43 Royal Technical College, Glasgow in the same year. Whilst still a student in Glasgow, he had started addressing himself to the practical problems of Mining engineering. As a student guest of an old Colliery in England near St. Helens, he had offered theoretical and practical solutions to a problem that had plagued the Colliery for three years. The Central Coals Board was so impressed by his simple solution to a problem that looked so complex that ,it offered him a job regardless of whether or not he graduated from the University. He was unable to accept the offer of a job as he preferred to apply his skills to the problems of this country. He was an active participant in students' politics while still in the United Kingdom and a regular and keen debater in the Student Parliamentary debates on the Labour Front Bench. His interest in parliamentary debates enabled him to visit The British Parliament in 1948 as a guest of late labour MP Aneurin Bevan. His nationalistic feeling was irked when a white officer shot and killed 21 striking miners at Enugu; he was in the forefront of the protest and the petition lodged by the Glasgow African Students' Union was among the foremost in condemning the Colonial administration for this awesome brutality. After completing his engineering studies in Glasgow, he served his pupilage in 1951 as a Mining Engineer partly in Ghana in the Ashanti Goldfields Corporation. He was to have used his special knowledge of underground ventilation technique to improve environment conditions in the deep 'Obuasi mine which was about 5400 feet deep. He was not given the opportunity to do this but succeeded in working upon the innovative diamond drill stopping which enabled the Corporation to break sufficient gold-bearing rock in one blast to support production for three months. This innovative technique was in contrast to daily blasting which was relatively slow and unproductive. As the only African in a responsible position at the mine, racism had begun to rear its ugly head. The detestable coronial order coupled with ethnic jealousy combined to make his continued work in the Corporation unhappy and untenable. On his return to Nigeria in 1952, Mr Ifaturoti served in different parts of the country employing his training and talent to assist in the exploration of the country's mineral resources. From 1952 to 1968, he was in the mines department of the Ministry of Mines and Power and -rose through the ranks' from pupil Inspector of Mines to The Chief Inspector of Mines in February 1964. His work and the technical reports that he produced were indeed crucial to subsequent efforts in mining inspection and regulations, an area of significant relevance to mineral exploration in the country. Mr. Ifaturoti is a pioneer in this Country in mining engineering and to him fell the lot of advising the government in the area" of metals and mine:als. He was the first Nigerian to occupy the position of th~ Ch~et ~nspector of Mines (now, Director of Mineral Resources) ~n the M~nes Division of the Federal Ministry of Minas and Power. He was also the founder of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Socie~y (formerly the Nigerian Mining, Geological and Me~allurgicdl Soc~ety). As the Chief .Inspector of Mines, he travelled extensively. negotiating International Agreements, advancing the uses of minerals obtainable in Nigeria, exploring the possibility of explosives manufacture in Nigeria, studying advances of Science in exploration for and development of mineral resources and presenting papers at seminars on new metals and minerals. Between 1961 and 1976, he had travelled through Portugal- Thailand, West Germany, Spain, United States, Austria, Britai~, Switzerland, Japan, Czechoslovakia, Ethiopia, Italy, Greece and Australia. His publications which are many cover the important issues of Mining .legislation in Nigeria~ The Minerals Industry and the National Development Plans, mineral resources in the different states of the country, mining taxation and mineral development in Nigeria and mineral resources management. His publications cover a period of 25 years (1965-1990) and he does not appear to have retired from writing yet. The list of fieldwork he has carried out are impressive and span the period 1965 to ·1975. His significant field investigations include the identification and location of some mineral deposits in Nigeria and the preparation of feasibility studies of identified mineral deposits. Honourable Chancellor, The catalogue of achievements of Mr. Ezekiel Adekunle Ifaturoti is not only impressive but are significant to the economic development.. of our g;r:-eatcountry. From 1969 to 1978, he was a Director, Bisichi Jantar (Nigeria) Limited - Tin and Columbite producers; 1970 to date, Director, Amalgamated Tin Mines of Nigeria Lim~d_ 1971 - 1979, Director, Nigerian Steel Development Authority 1985 to date, Chairman, Management Board of Consolidated Tin Mines Ltd. Bukuru, Plateau State; and 1970 - 1976, Member, Council of the University of Ife,Il~- Ife. These are but some of the po~itions he has held in the service of this country. He is currently the Chairman of African Petroleum (AP) Nigeria Limited. It is generally acclaimed that our great country is blessed with mineral resources. The identification of these resources, the determination of their iocations, their exploration·and the management of mined resources, you will agree is significant to a healthy Nigerian economy. These precisely, Vice Chancellor Sir, had beeh a lifelong preoccupation of Mr. Ifaturoti. Even at a Biblically ripe age of 70, he is as strong as a man half his age, intellectually alive and still capable of giving many more.years of active service to this great country. Honourable Chancellor, this great University is the only Univers~tyoffering an undergraduate degree programme in Mining Engineering - an area in which Mr. Ifaturoti has made significant contributions as a pioneer. The Council and Senate of this University, after careful consideration of the contributions of Mr. Ifaturoti in this area, have jointly and unanimously d~cided tOhp,nour him. It is therefore my honour and privilege Sir, to present to you, Mr. Ezekiel Adekunle Ifaturoti for th~ confernment of the degree of Doctor of Engineering (D. Eng Honoris Causa.

45 CITATION ON THE CONFERMENT OF THE HONORARY DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF LETTERS (D. LIT) (HONORIS CAUSA) ON CHIEF SAMUEL OYEWOLE ASABIA OFR, FCIB B.A. HONS (OXON) B.Se Eeons HONS (LOND). Chief S.O. Asabia was born on December 1st, 1931 in Idoani, Ose Local Government area of Ondo State. He was brought up in a christian home in the strict orthodoxy of a Christian Mission House of the 1930s and 1940s. His fathe~, the late Venerable Archdeacon D.O. Asabia, the Olisa of Idoani, was a christian missionary in the African Church Mission who had served in Isheri, in the Lagos district, Owo and Akoko divisions of Ondo State, Isanlu in Kwara State and Pategi in Niger State. HiS father belonged to the special breed of leaders who extolled the virtues of christianity as a veritable instrument of rapid social and economic transformation. The Venerable Archdeacon D.O.Asabia was a remarkable and anunus~al man who founded 42 churches and a similar number of primary schools while he served in Ikere-Ekiti. The first teacher training college, that is, the African Church Teacher Training College, Ikere Ekiti was established under his superintendence and under the principalship of Chief J. Awopeju. It was the wish of the elder Asabia that his son should receive a secondary school education in Christ's School, Ado-Ekiti under the tutorship of the legendary missionary who founded the school, the Venerable Archdeacon Henry Dallimore. The young Asabia, contrary to his personal wishes was inevitably to attend Christ's School which he lef~ in 1948 after obtaining the Grade I Senior Cambridge School Certificate with exemption from tne London Matriculation at a tender age of 17. In 1949, he was admitted to the University of Exeter, London where he graduated BA (Hons) and BSc. Econs (Hons) of London University. He subsequently obtained Fellowship of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, England. Chief Asabia found University life not only exciting but intellectually stimulating and satisfying. He nourished the idea of becoming an academic and did not give up the idea until about ten years later. He fell under the influence of the famous Professor Sykes, Professor of Economics and Public Finance in Exeter and read a lot of Bertrand Russell, the eminent English philosopher and thinker. When Chief Asabia was appointed into the colonial Service in 1951, he was certainly the first person of the then Ondo Province (now Ondo State) to have been appointed an administrative officer by The Colonial Government. More remarkably, he was in ~he 9th position on the seniority list among Nigerian officers appointed into that position by the Colonial government before the creation of regions in 1958. Chief Asabia had joined the colonial administration at a critical time in the nation's history when movement toward self government and independence was on the hOLizon. After serving briefly in The United Kingdom in the Agent-General's office he was posted home as private secretary to the then Attorney-General Chief FRA Williams. Chief Asabia was later posted to Oyo as Assistant District Officer (ADO) in 1955 as the first Nigerian ever to hold that position. Chief Rotimi Williams, the brilliant Nigerian Constitutional Lawyer became a role model for Chief Asabia in intellect, professionalis~, industry and comma tment. Chief Asabi a also recall s that he was greatly influenced by the ideals which Archdeacon H. Dallimore

47 the NLgerian banking system into the main stream of National Economic Pol icy he received the support of' both the governments of General Yakubu Gowon and General Olusegun Obasanjo. It can truly be said that some of the concepts and the practical application of the provisions of the Nigerian Enterprises Promotion Decree to the ba .ki nq industry was pioneered by Chief Asabia. J.onourable 'Chancellor, we have recounted the humble accon.plishments of a great Nigerian who started of as a Mission House lad and rode triumphantly through the turbulent waters of national growth. A grateful nation has publicly acknowledged Chief Asabia's enormous contribution to Finance and Banking by conferring on him the national honour of officer of the distinguished Order of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Also in 1982, His Royal Highness, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Olubushe II, The Ooni of Ife conferred the honorary 'title of the Bashorun of Ife on Chief Asabia. Honourable Chancellor, in spite of opportunities available to him as Chai rman .of Capi.tal Issue Commi ttee, 1ater redesignated Security and Exchange Commission to acquire shares in the period 1970 to 1975, when the first set of 22 multinational companies sold their shares to the Nigerian Public under the Indigenous Enterprises Promotion Decree, it was to the eternal credit of Chief Asabia that he resolutely refrained as a singular act of self discipline from buying shares from the Stock Market throughout the entire period., This ac~ of self discipline -i-stypical of the strict Mission House training he had earlier received in the hands of his father. In his capacity as President of the NIGERIAN ST6cK exchange during the period 1975 - 1982, he worked assiduously LO promote the development of the Capital Market as a vehicle for mobilising investment Capital for Commerce and Industry. Today, well over 100 countries are quoted on the market. Since retiring from the First Bank, Chief Asablia has establ ished an Investment and Co rpo rat e Finance Fi rm - Int.erstate Securities Limited and a Money Brokerage firm - Merchantile House Limited (MHL). Chief Asabia is one of the prime movers of the First Interstate Merchant Bank (Nigeria) Limited of which he is the Chairman and Managing Director. Honourable Chancellor, Chief Asabia is a highly respected national and international figure. He is happily married to Maureen Patricia Lyon and, together they have two sons and two daughters. Chief Asabia is known for his openess, kindness, generosity, transparent honesty and integrity. He has been a pride to the nation and to Ondo State ~n particular. As one of

I the 1990 recipients of the award of Ondo State Roll of Honour, he has carved out for himself a permanent niche in the history of OIldo State and remains a dynamic figure in our nation's economic history. In appreciation of the achievements of this great Nigerian, Hon. Chancellor, the Senate and Council of this great University has jointly and unanimously decided to honour him. It is therefore my honour and privilege to present to you Chief Samuel Oyewole Asabia, OFR; FCIB for the conferment of the degree OI Doctor ~f Letters (D. Litt) Honoris Causa.

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