By Onilede Titi Faith
The Federal Government has restated its commitment to producing globally competitive graduates in the transport sector as 529 students took their matriculation oath at the Federal University of Transportation, Daura (FUTD), Katsina State, during its second matriculation ceremony on Saturday.
Minister of Transportation, Senator Said Ahmed Alkali, said the Tinubu administration was determined to raise high-quality professionals who can compete globally.
He explained that FUTD, the first specialized transport university in Nigeria and Africa, would equip students with the expertise needed to shape policies, laws, and innovations that will position Nigeria’s transport sector as a driver of economic growth.
Alkali, who conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s goodwill message, urged students to take their studies seriously, adding that the institution is a unique opportunity to build careers that will contribute to national development.
He also acknowledged the role of CCECC Nigeria Limited in building key infrastructure for the university-classrooms, laboratories, workshops, and hostels-under its corporate social responsibility linked to the Lagos-Kano Railway Modernisation Project.
Vice-Chancellor of FUTD highlighted plans to expand academic and infrastructural capacity, including smart classrooms, virtual learning platforms, additional laboratories, and solar-powered facilities as part of a green campus initiative.
He added that FUTD would soon introduce programmes in transportation security, aviation technology, sustainable urban mobility, and smart transport systems, while intensifying research in autonomous vehicles and green logistics.
Executive and short courses, as well as strong industry partnerships, are also being developed to boost graduate employability.
According to him, these efforts are supported by supervising ministries, regulatory agencies, and industry stakeholders to ensure that FUTD graduates are not only academically sound but also well-prepared for the transport sector’s evolving demands.
