The Periscope Reporter
* Establishment of DNA Forensic Laboratory; first of its kind in the Lake Chad Basin
* Partnerships with National and international organisations aimed at positioning MAUTECH to compete favorably with its counterparts across the globe
* MAUTECH enjoys support and donations from notable organisations and cooperation with the host community in improving security and farming activities
* Agricultural revolution: over 50 hectares of land allocated for multiple wet season and irrigation farming; over 300 bags realised so far
* TETFUND commends MAUTECH VC for maintaining the Academic Publishing Centre and retaining its excellent state described as the best in the country
* MAUTECH experiences unprecedented phases of capacity and infrastructural developments within 6 months, in spite of paucity of funds
* Industrial action is over, MAUTECH is set for academic activities in compliance with the Covid-19 preventive measures prescribed by NCDC
Despite the challenges occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic, which ushered in 2020, the doggedness and result driven nature of the quintessential Prof Abdullahi Liman Tukur, the Vice Chancellor, did not leave anything to chance in actualising his vision for Modibbo Adama University of Technology, MAUTECH Yola, Adamawa state, northeast Nigeria.
All is now set for the commencement of intake of the first set of students into the college of medical sciences, after securing approval from the National Universities Commission and the support of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).
The central laboratory has been designated for the take off of the programme; while plans are underway for the construction of a befitting ultramodern edifice to accommodate lecture theaters, laboratories, offices as well as all other requisite facilities needed for the smooth take off. Ditto for the expansion and upgrading of the Federal Medical Center Yola to a teaching hospital.
Partnerships with the university yields positive results:
MAUTECH partnership with UNFPA and the Adamawa state ministry of women affairs culminated in the establishment of the DNA Forensic Laboratory, domiciled at the Chevron Biotechnology Centre of University, recently commissioned; the first of it’s kind in the Lake Chad Basin. It will among other functions, conduct testing of samples from rape victims and facilitates in the prosecution of offenders,
These alongside other partnerships with the National Insurance Commission, Zambian High Commission, the Nigeria Content Development and Management Board, the Industrial Training Fund among others are designed to positioned the institution to compete favorably with its counterparts across the globe.
Agricultural revolution is taking place in MAUTECH Yola; over 50 hectares of land was cultivated in the wet season. Multiple crops, such as rice, maize, cowpea, sorghum and soya beans were cultivated; over 300 bags were realised from the fields. Already plans are in top gear for irrigation farming
MAUTECH has in November played host to the Board of Trustees and Management of TETFUND, alongside Vice Chancellors of universities, Polytechnic Rectors and Provosts of all colleges of Education in the North East for a review of the Academic Publishing Centre located in the University. The Centre will serve the publishing needs of tertiary institutions in the zone.
Both the BOT Chairman TETFUND, Alh Kashim Ibrahim Imam and the Executive Secretary, Prof Elias Bogoro commended the Vice Chancellor for maintaining the facility and retaining its excellent state describing it as the best in the country.
The Year 2020 has been a Pandemic Year but a very productive one at MAUTECH Yola. In three phases, the university has witnessed unprecedented achievements in the area of infrastructure.
In Phase One covered the construction of reinforced concrete lined drains at chemistry junction, earthworks and rehabilitation of new female hostel and shoulder maintenance at the main university entrance; these are part of the university management’s deliberate effort in maintaining existing infrastructure while embarking on new ones.
Phase Two focused on strengthening the earthworks at the new female hostel with embankment protection works, construction of an unreinforced concrete lined trapezoidal drains; 800m in length and a 500m earth drains with clearance works.
Phase Three on the other hand, handled the continuation of the shoulder maintenance up to the computer centre (ongoing); rehabilitation of block drains at firehouse to Chukwu Hall, and earthworks at chemistry junction to new female hostel bringing the alignment to the World Bank standard for rural roads.
It is instructive to note that all these were achieved within 6 months in spite of paucity of funds. You can imagine what could be achieved with a huge war chest.
MAUTECH also received a lot of support from notable organisations, ranging from donations of books by Brooks Consolidated Company, proposed building of a research and development Centre by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board. It has also maintained a robust mutually beneficial relationship with the immediate host community in improving security and in the institution’s farming activities.
Now that the industrial action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU has come to an end, the institution is set to welcome students back to normal academic activities. Adequate preparation has been made by the MAUTECH Management to ensure compliance with the covid 19 preventive measures as prescribed by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control ( NCDC).