The Federal University of Technology, Ilaro, Ogun State, is targeting the 2027/28 academic session for its take-off as a university as it progresses with its transition from the former Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro.
The institution has also expanded its academic programmes from 34 to more than 100 in four years, while student enrolment has risen from fewer than 10,000 to more than 27,000.
The development was disclosed by the institution’s Rector and Acting Vice-Chancellor, Dr Mukail Akinde, in a statement issued on Monday by the Public Relations Officer, Sola Abiala.
Akinde said committees led by a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Ramon Bello, and Dr Charlotte Bose Iro-Idoro were making progress on different aspects of the transition.
The institution is preparing for verification by the National Universities Commission and working on an Academic Brief ahead of the finalisation of a new institutional Master Plan.
As part of the expansion, the institution has increased its schools from six to eight with the establishment of the School of Agriculture and the School of Art, Design and Printing Technology.
It has also introduced programmes and departments covering areas including renewable energy, agriculture, animal health, horticulture, mechatronics, automotive technology, welding and fabrication, cement technology, printing technology and metallurgical technology.
The institution said the Welding and Fabrication and Cement Technology programmes were designed to provide specialised manpower for cement companies and other industrial operations.
The expansion has been accompanied by growth in staff strength, research activities, infrastructure and funding through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund.
The Acting Vice-Chancellor also disclosed that the institution had developed and patented technologies including a solar and CNG-powered electric tricycle, an IoT-enabled solar egg incubator and hatcher, a mechanised kokoro mixer and extruder, a motorised palm oil digester and a plastic bottle shredder.
The institution is also digitising students’ records and results dating back to 1979, with a target of producing transcripts within 24 hours and completing registration processes online.
The Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Iro-Idoro, said the university would begin with nine faculties covering engineering technology, sciences, environmental technology, communication and information, administrative and management sciences, social sciences, computing, agricultural technology and visual arts, alongside a Centre for General Studies.
The Registrar, Mrs Aderonke Babatola, said the increase in student enrolment and academic programmes had created greater demand for staff.
She disclosed that the institution currently had at least 80 PhD holders and had recruited 371 new members of staff in two batches, while seeking approval to recruit more professors.
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