By Mustapha Alhassan
The Federal University of Technology, Minna has again honoured excellence in research and innovation as it presented a total of 68 awards to outstanding researchers and inventors whose efforts have advanced scholarship and boosted the institution’s profile nationally and globally.
This was at the 6th Researchers’ and Inventors’ Award ceremony held on Monday, December 8, 2025 at the Academic Publishing Centre, Main Campus, Gidan Kwano.
In his remarks at the event, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Faruk Adamu Kuta said the occasion was a mark of appreciation of researchers and inventors who have dedicated their time to do the University proud.He said that the existence of a university is anchored on the tripod of teaching,research and community service, emphasing that without research, teaching and community service would not be possible.
Prof. Kuta maintained that contemporary research is products-oriented ,unlike the previous practice which focused more on publishing of academic papers as it is through the products that community can derive benefit from the research conducted.He pointed out that, whereas the number of universities in the country continues to rise, the distinguishing feature is the ability to conduct impactful research, the reason the institution is now ranked 7th best in Nigeria.
While urging the awardees not to relent in their efforts and also inspire the younger ones, he extended his appreciation to their families through whose support they succeeded.
Earlier, while giving a background to the event, the Director of the Directorate for Research Innovations and Development (DRID), Prof. Chiemela Chinma recalled that the University was ranked first in the 2024 National Research Fund grants cycle, and it also won the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) commercial agriculture project worth one billion naira, in addition to patents and international grants won by its researchers. He acknowledged the Vice-Chancellor’s commitment to celebrating the researchers doing the University proud.
The Vice-Chancellor and Principal Officers presented certificates and cash prizes to the awardees.
Responding on behalf of the awardees, Prof. Akim Osarhiemen Osunde applauded the Vice-Chancellor for his consistency in honouring researchers since he assumed office, leading to an improvement in the University’s from 14th to 7th best in Nigeria.The former Deputy Vice chancellor (Academic) who assured that the researchers will sustain the tempo also stresses the need for more senior professors to lead the various research teams.
Giving the vote of thanks, Dean, Postgraduate School, Prof. Abubakar Saidu, thanked the University Management and researchers for the successes recorded.
The awards were in six categories – Q1 Journal Publication Award, Patents Award, NRF 2024 Grant Winners, National Grant Award Winners (TETFund University Farm, Most Cited Academic Staff on Scopus and2025 Top 2% Global Researchers as compiled by Stanford University.
Winners of the First Quartile (Q1) Journal Publication Award are Prof. Luqman Oyekunle Oyewobi et al― Department of Quantity Surveying (3 Awards); Prof. Chiemela Enyinnaya Chinma et al ― Department of Food Science and Technology (2 Awards); Prof. Francis Ofurum Arimoro et al ―Department Animal Biology (2 Awards); Prof. Lanre Joseph Olatomiwa et al ― Department Electrical and Electronics Engineering (2 Awards); Dr. Abdulhakeem Yusuf et al ―Department of Mathematics (2 Awards) and Dr. Aliyu Mustapha et al ― Industrial and Technology Education (2 Awards).Prof Andrew Saba Gana et al― Department of Crop Production; Dr. Festus Abiodun Oguntolu et al― Department of Mathematics; Dr. Ismail Oyeleke Olarinoye et al― Department Physics; Dr. Idris Babatunde Akintunde et al― Department of Materials & Metallurgical Engineering; Mr. Daniel Peter et al ― Department of Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering; Dr. Isah Ndakara Abubakar et al ― Department Electrical and Electronics Engineering and Prof. Olabisi Peter Abioye et al ― Department of Microbiology also won Q1 awards.Others are Dr. Lukman Adewale Ajao et al ― Department of Computer Engineering; Dr. Olufemi Adebayo Oyewole et al ― Department of Microbiology; Prof. Olalakan David Adeniyi et al ― Department Chemical Engineering; Prof. Muibat Diekola Yahya et al ― Department Chemical Engineering and Prof. Appollonia Aimiosino Okhimamhe et al – WASCAL.Dr. Abubabakar Saddiq Mohammmed et al ― Telecommunication Engineering; Prof. Hussaini Anthony Makun et al ― Department of Biochemistry ; Prof. Ambali Saka Abdulkareem et al ― Department Chemical Engineering and Prof. Mukhtar Abdulkadir et al ― Department Petroleum and Gas Engineering are among the winners.Notably, the Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in the University, Prof. Oyewobi is the lead author of the publication with the highest QI journal publications.
Six researchers teams won the Patent Award category namely: Prof. Jimoh Oladejo Tijani et al― Department of Chemistry (2 Awards); Prof. Olalekan David Adeniyi et al ― Department Chemical Engineering; Dr. Olufemi Adebayo Oyewole et al ― Department of Microbiology; Prof. Stephen Shaibu Ochigbo et al ― Department of Chemistry; Prof. Oladiran Kamardeen Abubakare et al― Department of Materials & Metallurgical Engineering and Dr. Olaotan Abimbola Adediran et al ― Department of Crop Production.
The TETFund National Research Fund Grant winners are Prof. Agboola Abdulhameed Kayode et al ― Information Science and Media; Dr. David Michael et al ― Telecommunication Engineering; Prof. Osunde Akim Osarhiemen et al ― Soil Science and Land Management; Prof. Aniah Anthony et al ― Industrial and Technology Education; Dr. Adepoju Solomon Adelowo et al ― Computer Science and Dr. Abdullahi Ibrahim Mohammed et al ― Computer Engineering.It also includes Prof. Kolo Jonathan Gana et al ― Electrical & Electronics Engineering; Dr. Mustapha Aliyu et al ― Industrial and Technology Education; Dr. Zubair Suleiman et al ― Telecommunication Engineering; Prof. Ann Ebele Umeh et al ― Educational Technology Development and Prof. Jirgi Abigail John et al ― Agricultural Economics and Farm Management.Others are Professors Olawuyi Babatunde James et al ― Building; Dim Paul Egwuonwu et al ― Chemical Engineering; Garba Mohammed Umar et al ― Chemical Engineering and Balami Ayuba Audu et al ― Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering.
In the National Grant Award (TETFund University Commercial Farm) category, Professors Chiemela Enyinnaya Chinma ― Department of Food Science and Technology; Caroline Alenoghena ― Department of Telecommunication Engineering; M.T Salaudeen ― Department Crop Production; Israel Kayode Olayemi ― Department of Animal Biology; J. C Anuonye ― Department of Food Science and Technology and F.D Ibrahim―Department of Agricultural. Economics and Farm Management won.Others in the category are Professors Jimoh Oladejo Tijani ― Department of Chemistry and Ambali Saka Abdulkareem ― Department Chemical Engineering as well as Dr (Mrs) S.U Ibrahim― Department of Water Aquaculture and Fisheries Technology; Mal. M.D. Ahmed― Department of Animal Production and Mal. M. A Bakare (Secretary)―Registry
The awards for the Top 10 Most Cited Academic Staff on Scopus went to Prof. Jimoh Oladejo Tijani ― Department of Chemistry; Dr. Ismail Oyeleke Olarinoye ― Department Physics; Prof. Ambali Saka Abdulkareem ― Department Chemical Engineering; Prof. Uduak George Akpan ― Department Chemical Engineering and Prof. Lanre Joseph Olatomiwa ― Department Electrical and Electronics Engineering.Others in the top 10 most cited category are Dr. Muhammad Abdulhameed Shafii― Department of Cyber Security Science; Prof. Manase Auta ― Department Chemical Engineering Dr. Saheed Mustapha ― Department of Chemistry; Prof. Chiemela Enyinnaya Chinma ― Department of Food Science and Technology and Prof. Moses Aderemi Olutoye― Department Chemical Engineering.
There were four recipients in the 2025 Top 2% Global Researcher as compiled By Stanford University, namely: Professors. Lanre Joseph Olatomiwa ― Department Electrical and Electronics Engineering; Jimoh Oladejo Tijani ― Department of Chemistry; Ambali Saka Abdulkareem ― Department Chemical Engineering and Dr. Ismail Oyeleke Olarinoye ― Department Physics.
Photo Credit Elijah Yisa
