By Mustapha Alhassan
Prof. Faruk Adamu Kuta, current Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) has emerged Vice-Chancellor-designate of the Federal University of Technology, Minna.The Governing Council of the University approved the appointment at its 151st (Special) meeting held on Thursday, September 22, 2022.
Speaking while presenting the letter of appointment to the Vice-Chancellor-Designate, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Prof. Olu Obafemi NNOM, disclosed that Prof. Kuta came tops out of the 13 candidates shortlisted for the selection exercise from a total of 22 that had applied for the job.Born on October 26, 1972,
Kuta a professor of Medical Microbiology hails from Kuta, Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.
He had his early education at Central Primary School ( Dr. Idris Ibrahim Primary School), Kuta – 1976 -1981 and Government Science Teacher’s College, Wushishi, 1981 – 1986. From, 1989 to 1993, he was at Federal College of Education, Kontagora, where he obtained the Nigerian Certificate in Education.
He proceeded to Usmanu Danfodiyo University in 1994, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Microbiology in 1998, added an M. Tech degree in Pharmaceutical Microbiology from Federal University of Technology, Minna in 2004 and capped his educational pursuit with a doctorate degree in Medical Microbiology (with research interest in Virology )in 2012 from the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi.From 1990 to 2005, he was in the employ of his local and state governments, serving as class room teacher at Central Primary School, Kuta; zonal inspector, Shiroro Local Government Education Authority and part-time lecturer, Niger State College of Education, Minna.
He joined the services of the Federal University of Technology, Minna in 2005 as lecturer II in the Department of Microbiology and progressed steadily to the rank of professor in 2018.
The in-coming VC has held many positions in the University, including: Departmental Examination Officer, 2007- 2008; Deputy Dean, School of Natural and Applied Sciences, 2012 – 2014; Deputy Dean, School of Life Sciences, 2014 – 2017; Deputy Director, Academic Planning Unit, 2017; Head of Department, Microbiology; Director, Academic Planning Unit, 2021, Member, University Governing Council, 2016 – 2020 and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) 2021 till date.
Prof. Kuta is a member of the Nigerian Society for Microbiology, American Society of Microbiology, Biotechnology Society of Nigeria and European Society of Virology.
He has supervised many undergraduate, master’s and doctoral projects.In addition to attending many local and international conferences, he has to his credit, more than 50 scholarly publications in reputable journals.
He is happily married and blessed with two children.
Prof. Kuta will be succeeding the current Vice – Chancellor Prof. Abdullahi Bala, FSSSN as the 8th substantive occupant of the exalted office.
The appointment letter signed by the Pro-Chancellor Prof. Obafemi states that the appointment which is for a period of five years is non-renewable and with effect from December 3, 2022.
Photo Credit: Elijah Yisa