FUT Minna, NMC Abuja Seal MoU to Strengthen Mathematics Education Amid Declining Interest

The Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUT Minna) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Mathematical Centre (NMC), Abuja, aimed at revitalising mathematics education and reversing the growing apathy toward the subject among Nigerian youths.

Speaking at the signing ceremony held on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at the Academic Publishing Centre, Main Campus, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Faruk Adamu Kuta, warned that Nigeria’s national development will remain constrained if the declining interest in Mathematics is not addressed urgently. He described the trend as a threat to the country’s scientific and technological aspirations.

Prof. Kuta expressed concern over what he termed the “disappearing Mathematics profession,” noting that many young Nigerians now perceive Mathematics with fear despite its indispensable role in science, innovation, and economic progress. He emphasized that Mathematics remains the foundational language of all scientific disciplines and must be strengthened for Nigeria to advance meaningfully.

Welcoming the NMC delegation, the Vice-Chancellor commended the Centre for choosing FUT Minna as a strategic partner in rebuilding national capacity in the physical and mathematical sciences. He highlighted the University’s upward trajectory and recent Times Higher Education (THE) ranking, which placed FUT Minna among Nigeria’s top ten universities and the nation’s leading specialized institution.

Prof. Kuta assured the Centre of FUT Minna’s readiness to fully implement the MoU, particularly in staff and student exchange, programme development, and collaborative research. He added that the University has intensified efforts to strengthen postgraduate training and ensure timely completion of academic programmes.

Representing the Director General of NMC, Prof. Promise Mebine, the Deputy Director, Prof. Benjamin O. Oyelani, stated that FUT Minna was selected due to its longstanding reputation for excellence in science and technology education. He described the MoU as a “project of necessity,” revealing that findings from the Presidential Visitation Panel indicated that several fields in Mathematical Sciences in Nigeria were nearing extinction.

Prof. Oyelani explained that the partnership will support the development of specialized postgraduate programmes aligned with the National Universities Commission’s Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS). He added that it will also enhance national capacity in critical fields such as Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Theoretical Physics.

Providing additional background, the Director of the Directorate of Collaborations, Affiliations and Linkages, Prof. Israel K. Olayemi, said the MoU seeks to produce high-level manpower in Mathematics, Statistics, and Mathematics Education through Postgraduate Diploma, Master’s, and PhD programmes. The agreement also covers sabbatical opportunities, joint research initiatives, conferences, and collaboration on research grants.

Under the arrangement, FUT Minna will provide resource persons, supervision, and academic structures, while NMC will oversee funding and host designated programmes.

The ceremony ended with the formal signing of the agreement, supervised by Barr. Evelyn Hussaini of the University Legal Unit.