By Zaharaddeen Ishaq Abubakar | Katsina Time 

As the Federal University of Transportation Daura Katsina state clocks two years since its establishment, the institution has not only highlighted its key achievements and pressing challenges but also received a significant technological boost with the commissioning of a state-of-the-art ICT centre by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

Speaking at a press briefing held on Tuesday, 20 May 2025, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Umar Adamu Katsayal, described the past two years as a period of remarkable progress despite notable constraints. He stated that the university began academic activities in the very year of its inception—an uncommon feat among newly established institutions in Nigeria.

Among the university’s notable achievements are strategic collaborations with prominent institutions such as Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT), the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and the Russia University of Transport. It has also built relationships with key transport regulatory bodies, including the Shippers Council, NIMASA, and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). Additionally, the university has now been listed among institutions eligible for TETFund support, a development Professor Katsayal said would significantly enhance academic infrastructure and staff training.

However, the Vice Chancellor expressed concern over recurring challenges, particularly insufficient operational funding. This shortfall has affected critical areas such as campus security, student accommodation, academic facilities, and examination logistics. The university also lacks a national grid electricity connection, relying instead on generators and diesel-powered inverters—an unsustainable energy solution.

Despite these challenges, Katsayal reaffirmed the university’s commitment to long-term development through a structured 15-year strategic growth plan, divided into three five-year phases, aimed at building a world-class institution for transportation and logistics studies.

In a major development aligned with this vision, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) officially handed over a multi-million-naira ICT Centre (ICT Park) to the university. Commissioned by NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Dr. Aminu Maida, the facility features a 100-seater auditorium, five technology development labs, a 24-seat relaxation hub with high-speed computers, and various innovation rooms.

Dr. Maida explained that the centre is part of NCC’s broader mission to promote innovation and drive Nigeria’s digital economy. He added that the facility would equip students with cutting-edge skills in transport engineering, logistics, artificial intelligence (AI), and Internet of Things (IoT)—fields critical to the university’s academic focus.

Professor Katsayal commended the NCC and promised that the centre would be effectively utilized for the benefit of students and the wider Daura community and Katsina state. The development aligns with the Federal Government’s digital economic strategy and supports the vision of the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, to position Nigeria as a digital leader in Africa.

As the university marks its second anniversary, these achievements signal a promising future for transport education in Nigeria, provided that infrastructure and funding challenges are addressed in a timely manner.