EU officials assess mobility grant projects at FUT Minna
Adelowo Oladipo, Minna
Officials of the European Union (EU) Mission on Thursday, January 8, 2026, conducted an on-site evaluation and courtesy visit to the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna, to assess the implementation of EU-funded mobility grant projects at the institution.
The visit, which took place at the Vice-Chancellor’s Conference Room, Main Campus, Gidan Kwano, was led by Ms. Huba Boshoff. She explained that the mission was aimed at following up on EU grants awarded to the University, particularly those supporting student and staff mobility programmes.
According to her, the grants cover scholarships for foreign students studying at FUT Minna, as well as outbound exchange opportunities for FUT Minna students to selected African countries.
She added that the visit also provided an avenue to interact with project coordinators, academic staff and beneficiaries, assess project implementation, share experiences, identify challenges and make recommendations.
Welcoming the delegation, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Faruk Adamu Kuta, described FUT Minna as one of Nigeria’s leading universities, ranking seventh among over 300 institutions nationwide.
He reaffirmed the University’s commitment to its core mandates of teaching, research and community service, stressing that impactful research remains central to innovation and societal development.
Following the courtesy visit, the EU team proceeded to the African Centre of Excellence for Mycotoxin and Food Safety (ACEMFS), where key stakeholders made a series of presentations on the various EU-supported projects.
The Director, Collaboration, Affiliations and Linkages (DCAL) and Legal Entity Appointed Representative for EU Project Grants, Prof. Israel Kayode Olayemi, presented an overview of FUT Minna and its mobility projects. He highlighted the University’s mandate, academic strengths, governance structure, research centres and expanding national and international collaborations.
Prof. Olayemi noted that student and staff mobility programmes have become strategic tools for enhancing academic quality, institutional capacity, global visibility and international partnerships.
In another presentation, the Coordinator of the African Water Resources Mobility Network (AWARMAN), Prof. Francis Arimoro, described FUT Minna as a major hub for research and capacity building in West Africa.
He explained that EU-supported grants have strengthened the University’s capacity in critical areas such as artificial intelligence and clean energy to address pressing societal challenges.
Similarly, the Director of the Entrepreneurship Centre, Prof. A. Caroline, gave updates on the Home Grown Clean Energy Solution Project, disclosing that six FUT Minna students—two PhD candidates and four Master’s students—are currently benefiting from the programme.
She added that two undergraduate students were also sponsored for a three-month intensive training programme in Uganda.
Officials from the Bursary and Audit Units also made presentations on the financial management and accountability frameworks guiding the projects, while undergraduate and postgraduate beneficiaries shared their experiences from various exchange and mobility programmes.
At an exit meeting with University Management on Friday, January 9, 2026, the EU Mission commended FUT Minna for the warm reception and effective implementation of the projects.
Ms. Boshoff noted the strong commitment of the University to the objectives of the EU-funded programmes, citing positive feedback from both local and exchange students.
She particularly praised the University’s Project Office, as well as the Teaching and Learning, Innovation and Research units, for their close engagement with students.
She also observed that FUT Minna’s high number of Professors is a major strength and urged the institution to better link its research outputs to community development.
She further encouraged the integration of an entrepreneurship mindset into the University’s vision and mission to expand opportunities for Nigerians.
Another member of the delegation, Prof. Patricio Langa, underscored the importance of sustained research development in universities.
In his closing remarks, Prof. Kuta assured the EU team that the University Management would carefully review the observations and recommendations made during the visit and take necessary steps to strengthen areas identified for improvement.