By Mohammed Abubakar
The Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUTMINNA) has hosted a Technical Advisory Group (TAG) from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) on a visit to assess the viability of the university’s Academic Publishing Centre (APC).
Led by Prof. Faith Aladi Sale of the Forestry and Wildlife Department, Kogi State University, Anyigba, the TAG team arrived on Monday, July 7, 2025, and was received at the APC, Main Campus, by members of the University Management.
In her remarks, Prof. Sale expressed appreciation for the warm reception and stated that the team’s mission involves reviewing 20 terms of reference critical to evaluating the APC’s functionality and future prospects.
Welcoming the team, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Faruk Adamu Kuta, acknowledged the terms of reference and assured the assessors of the university’s full cooperation. He emphasized that the APC staff were fully briefed and ready to provide all necessary support for a smooth and productive assessment.
“All necessary arrangements have been made. The APC team is prepared to guide and assist you throughout the evaluation process,” Prof. Kuta said.
He urged the staff to be transparent in presenting their operations, including their capacity, staffing, and challenges. Prof. Kuta clarified that the exercise was not a fault-finding mission but a collaborative effort aimed at strengthening the centre’s performance and impact.
Highlighting the strategic importance of the APC, the Vice-Chancellor commended TETFund’s drive to promote local content in academic publishing. He noted that developing indigenous publishing capacity is key to aligning research outputs with Nigeria’s unique context and educational needs.
“There’s a critical difference between publications from the UK and those rooted in our local environment. Our scholars benefit more when they read works that reflect familiar linguistic and socio-environmental contexts,” he said.
He further encouraged the documentation of the assessment process, including photographs and detailed reports, to ensure accuracy and transparency.
Prof. Kuta concluded that the TAG team’s visit marked a significant milestone in the university’s commitment to advancing scholarly publishing and boosting the APC’s contribution to national academic development.
Other members of the delegation included Prof. Rose Ada Onoja of the Centre for Energy Research and Training, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
Photo Credit Elijah Yisa
