FUTA VC Applauds Students for Outstanding Performances in National Competitions

The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Professor Adenike Oladiji, has commended students of the institution for their outstanding performances in national competitions, describing them as versatile, technology-driven and industrious young scholars capable of competing successfully on both national and global stages.

Professor Oladiji made the remarks on Thursday, August 6, 2026, while receiving students who secured first and third positions at the inaugural National Undergraduate Industry-Based Engineering Research Competition sponsored by Dangote Cement, alongside a 300-level Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) student who emerged second in the Tertiary Essay Category of the 2026 Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Literary Competition.

The Vice-Chancellor described the achievements as heartwarming and another demonstration of the quality and excellence of FUTA students.

“Thank you for making us proud. FUTA is the leading University of Technology in Nigeria and we have the data to prove this. Your achievement is a testament to how effective we are as an institution,” she said.

Professor Oladiji also praised the students for their competitive spirit and determination to excel, noting that their achievements had brought honour to both themselves and the University.

“I applaud your spirit for putting yourselves up for competition. It is a remarkable spirit, and you have earned a place on our honour roll,” she added.

The Vice-Chancellor reiterated FUTA’s commitment to advancing Artificial Intelligence (AI) research and innovation. She recalled that the founding vision of the University was to combine agriculture, engineering and technology to address societal challenges.

According to her, AI has become indispensable to the future of teaching, research and national development and must therefore be integrated across disciplines within the University.

“We must make Artificial Intelligence part of our University. We will use you as ambassadors to advocate for the establishment of a Centre for Artificial Intelligence because you have demonstrated what is possible through innovation. You have made us proud,” Professor Oladiji said.

THE COMPETITIONS AND THE GREAT FUTARIANS

At the inaugural National Undergraduate Industry-Based Engineering Research Competition sponsored by Dangote Cement, FUTA teams secured both first and third positions.

The grand finale, organised by the University of Lagos Engineering Society Academic & Research Board under the aegis of Dangote Cement Plc, was held at the University of Lagos on July 28, 2026.

Team Zenith, comprising three final-year students — Oluwaferanmi Oladepo of Information and Communication Engineering, Nunsi Shiaki of Computer Engineering, and Adejire Adegite of Electrical and Electronics Engineering — emerged first in the competition.

Team Data Knights, made up of 400-level Computer Engineering students Faith Alabetutu and Samuel Abayomi, secured third position, while a team from the University of Lagos came second. Teams from the University of Ibadan also participated in the grand finale.

Team Zenith impressed the judges with a research-backed early-warning system designed to detect equipment faults at an early stage by simultaneously analysing machine vibration and electrical signals, potentially preventing minor faults from developing into costly breakdowns.

Team Data Knights secured third place with a data-driven optimisation model examining how Dangote’s plants can increase their use of alternative fuels for energy generation. The research was supported by more than 230 screened research sources and audited data from Dangote’s plants.

The competition attracted more than 360 applications from across the country at the initial stage. Only six teams were selected to pitch their projects before the judges at the grand finale, with two of the teams that eventually secured first and third positions coming from FUTA.

Team Zenith had earlier recorded another notable achievement at the third edition of the Industrial Electronics Society Generative IEEE IES AI Challenge.

The research project presented by the team is expected to be developed into a peer-reviewed research paper, while the team is scheduled to present the paper at the IEEE International Conference on Responsible Artificial Intelligence (IRAI 2026) in Melbourne, Australia, later this year.

Also recognised was Daniel Segun Akinyiwola, a 300-level Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) student of FUTA, who emerged second in the Tertiary Essay Category of the 2026 Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Literary Competition.

The students expressed appreciation to the University Management for its support and encouragement, pledging to continue pursuing innovative research and other initiatives capable of contributing to national development and further enhancing FUTA’s reputation as Nigeria’s premier university of technology.