The Alumni Association of the Federal University of Technology (FUT) Minna has concluded plans to build a 5,000-bed capacity hostel as part of its contribution to the 36- year-old institution.
The National President of the Association Alhaji Alhassan Yahaya, who disclosed this to newsmen during the 28th convocation and 36th founders day of the University, said the hostel, when completed, would ease the accommodation challenge facing the institution.
He said the project, which is expected to be completed before the end of this year, would be “student friendly,” adding that the gesture would complement the efforts of the university’s management.
North Central Trust reports that the university currently has a population of 23,000 students competing for 4,402 available bed spaces.
In January, the university signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a private developer, Urban Shelter Limited, for the provision of 5,344 bed spaces within the next four years under a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) arrangement.
The lack of accommodation in the institution had resulted in more than 80 per cent of the students staying off campus.
Yahaya Alhassan said the project would be executed through the Public Private Partnership (PPP) approach but insisted that the rates would be affordable to all category of students.
He also disclosed that the Alumni would establish a Shea butter factory as a way of generating funds and also providing a platform for students to carry out practical assignments.
The president said the association, with a population of over 100,000 members, would harmonise all its branches, adding that it was planning to inaugurate branches in Oyo, Kwara and Lagos states.
He also announced plans to inaugurate the Alumni Lecture series and the holding of a reunion ceremony for all alumnus before the end of this year .
He appealed to all members of the association to continue to represent the institution well wherever they found themselves adding that they should also contribute to the growth of the association.
