FUTA Don Francis Akinluyi Wins International Grant for Space-Based Flood Awareness System for Africa
Professor Francis Akinluyi of FUTA’s Remote Sensing and GIS Department has secured an international grant from the Independent Research Fund Denmark (DFF) for a research project on flood awareness in Africa. The project, titled "Space-Based Free Flood Awareness System for Africa (SFAS)," is a collaboration led by Professor Ehsan Forootan of Aalborg University, Denmark.
Chris Oyeoku Okafor 
A distinguished scholar at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Professor Francis Akinluyi from the Department of Remote Sensing and GIS, has secured a prestigious international grant for a groundbreaking research project aimed at enhancing flood awareness in Africa. The grant, awarded by the Independent Research Fund Denmark (DFF), will support the development of a Space-Based Free Flood Awareness System for Africa (SFAS).
The SFAS project is a collaborative effort led by Professor Ehsan Forootan of Aalborg University, Denmark, and is scheduled to run from May 2025 to July 2027. The initiative seeks to develop advanced flood inundation and water resource early warning systems using freely available satellite data. The research will focus on addressing critical challenges in data-scarce regions, with the Niger River Basin serving as a key demonstration site.
In a letter confirming the grant, Professor Forootan expressed appreciation for Akinluyi’s contributions, stating, “I am very glad that we can collaborate within the frame of this research project. I would like to express my full support for your involvement in the SFAS project.”
Reacting to the achievement, FUTA Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adenike Oladiji, congratulated Akinluyi, describing the grant as a testament to the university’s academic excellence and commitment to research and innovation. She urged him to represent FUTA and Nigeria with distinction, reinforcing the institution’s growing reputation as a globally recognized research-intensive university.
The SFAS project marks a significant milestone in advancing flood disaster preparedness across Africa, highlighting FUTA’s leadership in cutting-edge research for sustainable environmental solutions.
