The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Prof. Abdullahi Bala, fsssn, (Walin Zazzau Suleja) has urged the founder of Tilt Group of Companies, Alh. Habeeb Olalekan Okunola to consider setting up a project in his name in the institution.
Prof. Bala made this appeal when he led other Principal Officers of the University on a courtesy visit to the corporate headquarters of the company at Wuse 2, Abuja on Thursday, September 17, 2020.
The call is part of efforts by the FUTMinna VC to change the narrative of university administration by attracting investments and projects from spirited individuals and corporate bodies.
The Vice-Chancellor disclosed that the purpose of the visit was to intimate Alh. Okunola on the kind of intervention that the university requires from him in order to advance its fortunes.
The University helmsman said the institution has over 11, 000 hectares of land and would be ready to also partner with him since he has a keen interest in agriculture. He revealed that the University has concluded arrangements to establish an agricultural research farm with interest in animal husbandry, fishery and crop production, among others. According to him, the agricultural research farm would help the University to train the new generation of herders as well as address the incessant herders and farmers clashes in the country.
“It is our desire to see that we continue to make impact in the nation through our research output. I am aware that you have interest in oil and gas, real estate, mining and construction. We can also partner with you in these areas in terms of Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) for our students and for our staff to come here for sabbatical or research leave to acquire the latest skills in the industry,” the VC stated.
Equally germane to note, he disclosed that the University was on the verge of restructuring its entrepreneurship curriculum to give effect to the academic immersion programme where students would work on feasibility studies for businesses, with the University linking them up with funding opportunities in order to create a new generation of graduates that would be job creators. Also, he expressed optimism to one day see a dedicated building named as Alh. Habeeb Olalekan Okunola Centre for Entrepreneurship in FUTMinna.
Responding, the founder & General Managing Director, Tilt Group of Companies, Alh. Okunola assured the delegation that he is ready to support the University and that his team would visit the institution to see how they can incorporate new ideas on how to make the institution’s Entrepreneurship Centre a global brand for value exchange.
He said collaboration is the new innovation for development and applauded the University’s Management for exploring this option to woo investments and projects to the University.
“We are 110 per cent committed to this partnership and you would not regret this relationship,” he enthused.
Tilt Group of Companies is a multinational corporation with ten successful brands that cut across real estate, engineering, manufacturing facilities, trading, oil and gas, construction and energy.
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