The National Universities Commission (NUC) has commenced a resource verification exercise at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Ondo State, to assess the institution’s readiness to introduce four proposed academic programmes.
The exercise, which took place on Monday, August 17, 2026, focused on programmes proposed by the School of Architecture (SA), School of Science and Technology Education (SSTE), and School of Electrical Systems Engineering (SESE).
The proposed programmes are Landscape Architecture, Interior Architecture Design, Industrial and Technology Education, and Information and Communication Engineering.
The resource verification formed part of the NUC’s regulatory and quality assurance responsibilities and was aimed at determining whether FUTA had the human, physical and academic resources required to deliver the programmes effectively.
During the exercise, the NUC Resource Verification Team assessed several aspects of the University’s preparedness, including the availability of qualified academic and non-academic staff, lecture rooms, laboratories, specialised equipment, library resources, office accommodation and other essential facilities.
Speaking on behalf of the NUC team, Professor Isah Danladi said the exercise was designed to establish whether the proposed programmes met the Commission’s prescribed requirements before approval could be granted for their commencement.
Danladi stressed that adequate academic manpower and appropriate teaching and learning facilities were fundamental to maintaining quality in university education, particularly in specialised programmes requiring laboratories, studios and other technical infrastructure.
He also emphasised the importance of well-equipped laboratories, functional libraries and other supporting facilities in ensuring that students receive appropriate academic and practical training.
The NUC representative commended the FUTA management for its level of preparedness and the efforts made towards establishing the proposed programmes.
He urged the University to sustain its commitment to quality assurance and continue to adhere strictly to the Commission’s guidelines throughout the process.
According to him, observations made during the verification exercise would form part of the Commission’s assessment and subsequent recommendations concerning the proposed programmes.
Representing the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adenike Oladiji, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Professor Timothy Amos, reaffirmed FUTA’s commitment to developing academic programmes that meet both national and international standards.
Amos said the University had deliberately invested in the facilities, academic manpower and other resources required to support the proposed programmes.
He assured the NUC team that the University was prepared to comply with the Commission’s requirements and implement any recommendations arising from the verification exercise.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor expressed optimism that approval of the proposed programmes would further strengthen FUTA’s academic profile while creating additional opportunities for students to pursue courses aligned with emerging technological, professional and developmental needs.
The verification team subsequently inspected relevant facilities across the University and held discussions with officials responsible for the proposed programmes.
The inspection enabled the Commission to evaluate the institution’s preparedness in critical areas, including academic staffing, physical infrastructure, laboratories, equipment, library facilities and administrative arrangements.
The proposed programmes cut across areas with growing relevance to Nigeria’s built environment, education sector and technological development.
Landscape Architecture and Interior Architecture Design, for instance, are expected to broaden opportunities for students interested in the planning, design and management of physical spaces, while Industrial and Technology Education would contribute to the preparation of teachers and professionals capable of supporting technical and vocational education.
The proposed Information and Communication Engineering programme is also positioned within a rapidly expanding technology environment where advanced communication systems and digital infrastructure are increasingly important to economic and social development.
The exercise is therefore significant not only for FUTA’s programme expansion but also for efforts to align university education with changing labour-market requirements and emerging areas of knowledge.
However, the resource verification exercise does not by itself constitute final approval for the commencement of the programmes. The NUC is expected to consider the findings and recommendations from the assessment before determining the next stage of the approval process.
The successful completion of the exercise nevertheless represents an important step in FUTA’s efforts to expand its academic portfolio and provide students with opportunities to study programmes that respond to contemporary technological, professional and societal needs.
For FUTA, the proposed expansion also reflects its broader emphasis on technology-driven education and the development of graduates equipped with relevant knowledge and practical competencies for Nigeria’s evolving economy.
