By Lydia Legbo
As a follow-up to the virtual Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUTMINNA), Nigeria, and the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Tarkwa, Ghana, the Vice-Chancellor of FUT, Minna , Prof. Faruk Adamu Kuta, led a delegation of the University officials on a working visit to UMaT on Wednesday, July 3, 2025.
The visit aimed to advance discussions on collaborative programmes in Mining Engineering and related fields, while also providing an opportunity for an on-site inspection of UMaT’s facilities. The engagement took place at the Council Chamber of UMaT, where both universities explored critical areas of cooperation under the MoU.
In his remarks, Prof. Kuta emphasized FUT, Minna’s desire to deepen academic and research collaborations, including:
Access to undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Mining Engineering,
Joint organization of workshops and training on laboratory equipment and research methods,
Student and staff exchange programmes modalities, requirements, and feasibility,
Collaborative research, innovation, and development, including co-publications and grant applications,
Internship and practical training using shared laboratory resources,
Joint supervision of projects and professional certification programmes,
Interaction with International/Partnership Offices for global academic engagement,
Support for entrepreneurship through co-curricular and extra-curricular training, and Commercialization of research outputs and interaction with licensed industry partners.
Prof. Kuta expressed his gratitude to UMaT for the warm reception and reiterated the importance FUT, Minna places on the partnership.
” This is a wonderful partnership and I pray it produces lasting fruits, projects and programmes that will outlive our tenures as Vice-Chancellors. A comprehensive report will be presented to the University Governing Council at it next meeting to ensure the sustainability of the collaboration ‘, he said.
In response, the Vice-Chancellor of UMaT, Prof. Richard K. Amankwah, thanked FUT, Minna’s delegation for their visit and reaffirmed UMaT’s readiness to implement the MoU meaningfully. He provided a brief history of UMaT, noting its evolution from the Tarkwa Technical Institute (established in 1952) to a fully-fledged university through the University of Mines and Technology Act 2004 (Act 677), receiving presidential assent on November 12, 2004.
Prof. Amankwah highlighted UMaT’s specialization in Mining, Petroleum, Technology, and related disciplines. He noted that the University currently operates two campuses,Tarkwa (main) and Essikado (satellite) with a student population of approximately 15,000. The institution comprises five faculties (Mining and Minerals Technology; Geosciences and Environmental Studies; Engineering; Integrated Management Science; and Computing and Mathematical Sciences) and three schools (Petroleum Studies; Railway and Infrastructure Development; and Postgraduate Studies).
During the visit, the Director of the Directorate of Collaboration and Linkages (DCAL), FUT, MIinna, Prof. Israel Olayemi, presented an overview of FUT, Minna. He noted that the University was recently ranked the 8th best University in Nigeria, 68th in Africa by the Times Higher Education (THE) , World University ranking body and among the top four in graduate employability nationwide. He also outlined FUT, Minna structure, which includes 13 schools (including Post graduate school) with 63 undergraduate programmes and 130 Postgraduate programmes, as well as numerous local and international academic partnerships.
The delegation also engaged in an interactive session with selected UMaT staff and took a guided tour of key laboratory and workshop facilities led by Prof. Clement Owusu, Head of University Laboratories.
The visit further reinforced the commitment of both universities to building a strategic partnership that will foster academic excellence, research innovation, and cross-border collaboration in Mining and Minerals Engineering.
