Professor Jonathan Ndagi, the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna, has died at the age of 96.
The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the University’s Governing Council, Dr Mohammed K. Santuraki, announced the passing of the academic leader in a formal statement. According to Dr Santuraki, the university management received the news of the professor’s death from his family in the early hours of the morning.
Professor Ndagi was a foundational figure in the history of the institution, having served as its first Vice-Chancellor during its formative years. His leadership was central to the establishment of the university’s academic and administrative frameworks.
Academic legacy and institutional foundations
As the pioneer Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ndagi was tasked with steering FUT Minna through its initial operational phase. Established in the early 1980s, the university was designed to address Nigeria’s growing requirement for specialized technical and technological expertise. The role of a pioneer Vice-Chancellor in a federal institution involves not only academic oversight but also the complex task of building infrastructure and securing institutional accreditation from inception.
The death of such a figure marks the end of an era for the university community in Niger State and the broader Nigerian academic landscape. Pioneer administrators often set the cultural and operational tone that subsequent leadership teams follow for decades. For FUT Minna, Ndagi’s tenure defined the early direction of its technical curriculum and its identity as a centre for technological advancement.
The university community, including staff, students, and alumni, is expected to react to the loss of the man who guided the institution from its infancy. His passing also reflects a broader trend in Nigerian academia, where the generation of scholars who built the nation’s post-independence tertiary institutions is increasingly passing on.
At the time of this report, the family of Professor Ndagi has not released specific details regarding his cause of death or the funeral arrangements. The university management is expected to release further information concerning official condolences and memorial plans in due course.
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