RismadarVoice Reporters, April 14, 2026
The Federal University of Agriculture and Technology, Obio Akpa (FUATECH), has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration with the Akwa Ibom State Government as part of efforts to consolidate its academic foundation and support the state’s development priorities under the ARISE Agenda.
The Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. James J. Essien, made this known during a visit by a Federal Ministry of Education Ministerial Assessment Team to the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Education, where discussions centred on the progress and readiness of the newly established university.
Prof. Essien said FUATECH is deliberately seeking stronger institutional partnerships to ensure that its academic structure, governance, and research direction are properly guided in its formative stage. He emphasized that collaboration with relevant government agencies remains key to achieving long-term stability and excellence.
He noted that aligning the university’s programmes with the ARISE Agenda of Governor Umo Eno would help position the institution as a strategic contributor to human capital development, agricultural innovation, and technological advancement in the state.
The Vice Chancellor also expressed satisfaction with the early progress made by the university, describing the developments recorded within a short period as a positive indicator of its potential growth.
He added that FUATECH is open to partnerships with research institutions and academic bodies within and outside Nigeria, stressing that such collaborations would strengthen teaching, innovation, and research output.
“We are building a university that will stand on strong partnerships and shared expertise. This is essential for sustainable growth and impact,” he said.
A representative of the Federal Ministry of Education, Dr. Kareem Olawale, explained that the assessment visit was part of the statutory process for evaluating the suitability of proposed university sites.
He said the outcome of the inspection would be submitted to the Minister of Education for review, after which the National Universities Commission (NUC) would conduct further verification to ensure compliance with academic standards.
Dr. Olawale stressed that the multi-stage approval process is designed to guarantee quality assurance and global competitiveness for new tertiary institutions.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ubong Essien, described FUATECH as an important addition to the state’s growing education sector, noting that Akwa Ibom continues to expand its investment in higher education infrastructure.
He expressed confidence that with proper planning and sustained collaboration between federal and state authorities, the institution would emerge as a strong centre for agricultural and technological advancement.
