‘We can house only 3,304 of 26,000 students’ — FUT Minna laments shortage of hostels

Faruk-Adamu Kuta, the vice-chancellor (VC) of the Federal University of Technology (FUT) Minna, has expressed concern over the shortage of student hostels in the institution.

NAN reports that the newly selected VC described the shortage as a major challenge during his inaugural speech.

Kuta said since the inception of FUT Minna, the varsity has been able to provide hostels for only 3,304 out of 26,000 of its student population.

He also expressed worry about security and social challenges facing its students living off campus.

The VC sought the intervention of stakeholders, asking them to take advantage of the gap to build in the school.

“I am using this forum to request and appeal to FUT alumni, friends, and stakeholders that have the means at their disposal to take advantage of the offer,” Kuta said.

“Stakeholders should come to our aid through public-private partnership arrangements to provide hostels accommodation for the teeming students to ease their hardship.”

On internally generated revenue, Kuta vowed to ensure proper usage of the university’s income.

“Every loophole through which leakages and wastages are perpetrated will be properly blocked so that we can augment whatever comes from the federal government for the maximum benefit of FUT,” he added.

Kuta was appointed as the eighth substantive VC of the varsity on September 22.

Prior to his appointment, he was a deputy director of the university’s academic planning unit, head of the Department of Microbiology, director of the academic planning unit, and deputy vice-chancellor (academics).