The family of pioneer Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Late High Chief (Dr.) Gabriel Akin-Deko has donated a parcel of land in Idanre , Ondo State to the University to aid community development, foster town and gown relationship and strengthen existing ties. Speaking while making the donation during a courtesy call on the Vice Chancellor , Chief Akintayo Akin-Deko, a son of the late Pro-Chancellor and leader of the Akin-Deko family, expressed joy to be associated with the Nation’s leading University of Technology and Third Best University in Nigeria. He recounted the sacrifices of the University founding fathers and lauded the eventful achievements of the present generation of leaders. He pledged the family’s commitment to make laudable contributions to the continued achievement and development of the University’s goals and objectives. He said “In memory of our late father, the Akin-Deko family is ready to partner FUTA to create synergy towards development between the University and the rural communities”, citing the late Pro-Chancellor’s immediate community in Idanre as an example. He congratulated the Vice Chancellor, on her appointment as first female and eight substantive Vice Chancellor of the University, adding that his late father would have been happy at her appointment because he had always wanted a female at the helm of affairs and expressed optimism that FUTA will soon become the Number one University in the country. Welcoming the Akin-Deko family, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Adenike Oladiji declared the day memorable with the presence of the family of one of the founding fathers of the University who had long passed. She was ecstatic that the family had maintained relationship with the University and was currently seeking partnership in the area of community development. She recalled with pride how FUTA had immortalized the late Chairman of Governing Council by naming its first male hostel after him as a way of commending his contributions to a well laid foundation on which FUTA now thrives. She appreciated the gesture of the family by making effort to continually contribute to the development of the University and accepted the donation on behalf of the University while promising to harness the opportunity for the collective goal of both parties.
