History

In 1980, one of the policy thrusts in education of the then civilian government headed by Alhaji Aliyu Shehu Shagari was the creation of new universities of technology. The purpose, as announced by government, was in line with the national policy on education, with respect to technical and scientific training; namely, to develop, at every stage of the educational system, a scientific and technological attitude in preparation for the nation's technological take-off. Thus, the States of the Federation: Bauchi, Benue, Gongola, Imo, Niger, Ogun and Ondo that had no federal universities became the immediate beneficiaries of this new initiative. In the same year three such institutions were named for Bauchi, Benue and Imo. The other four were to commence in 1981. The Federal University of Technology, Akure, thus came into being in 1981. By August of that year, Government appointed the pioneer Chancellor, HRH Alhaji Zulkarnaini Gambari Mohammed, Emir of lIorin. Also, at that time, a thirteen-member Governing Council was announced, although, the chairman of that Council was not named until October of that year. Late High Chief (Dr) Gabriel Akin-Deko was at that time appointed the pioneer Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council. Later in the year, on November 19, 1981 late Professor Theodore Idibiye Francis was appointed the Vice-Chancellor of the new university. Professor Francis had been a renowned professor of medicine at the University of Ibadan medical school (University College Hospital) and later moved to the newly established Institute of Health Sciences of the University of Port Harcourt as foundation Provost. It was from Port Harcourt, therefore, that Professor Francis moved to Akure on January 1 1982 to begin the pioneering work of getting the university on a footing. One of the first things he did on assumption of duties was to recruit senior staff with whom to begin the various vistas of the foundation work. Thus, after some consultations, the Vice-Chancellor appointed Mr. Ayorinde O. Ogunruku, the very first senior staff member of the new university (other than his personal driver, Mr. Etim Udoh) as the first Administrative Officer, on January 12, 1982.

Early Problems

When the announcement to establish a university in Ondo State was made, it was not immediately clear where it was going to be sited. When eventually Akure, the State Capital, was chosen and the site housing the Federal Polytechnic was decided, it was clear that the new university might encounter some difficulties in getting started. The Polytechnic had built and inhabited the site since 1977 when it had been forced by the Federal Government to move to Akure from its original location in Jos, Plateau State capital, where it was first established. Thus, when the announcement was made locating the university in Akure, the Polytechnic authorities were understandably uneasy. When eventually a letter dated 18 December, 1981 conveyed the information to the Rector that the new university would take over the Polytechnic site and his institution was to move, albeit in phases, once again, to a new location in Ado-Ekiti, the undercurrents of agitation excited by the earlier announcement of the establishment of the university boiled over. It was not surprising, therefore, that when the newly appointed Vice-Chancellor arrived in Akure on 1 January, 1982 he was given only a room in the Establishment wing of the Polytechnic as his office. From there, the pioneering planning work of the new university commenced. But with the arrival of more staff members, and increased activities and the reluctance of the Polytechnic authorities to release any more space, negotiations on effecting a smooth transfer of physical facilities from the Polytechnic to the University commenced in February between the two heads of the two institutions. The expected difficulties attending these negotiations compelled the then Minister of Education to inaugurate a meeting of the joint Councils of the two institutions on 27 April, 1982. In the meantime, however, on account of increased activities and the need to get the many organs of the university system in place before students could resume, the Vice-Chancellor rented a three-storey building located at No. 98, Oyemekun Road in Akure from where all administrative activities were to continue. The university has five faculties: School of Science School of Earth and Mineral Sciences School of Environmental Technology School of Engineering and Engineering Technology School of Agricultural and Agricultural Technology The school also runs pre-degree science programs and university diploma programs.

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