Our attention has been drawn to the above publication by an online medium ABUSITE reportedly owned by the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
In the said publication which has gone viral, it was alleged that a Malaysian university, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) has earned 11 international research grants worth RM 600, 000 (61.3 Million Naira) from the Nigerian government through our institution, the Nigerian Institute of Tansport Technology.
It was further alledged that the revelation was made by the University’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ismail Ahmad Fauzi, on the university’s Facebook page on Monday.
Ordinarily, we would have ignored such publication but doing so would create the impression that it was the truth
We want to state unequivocally that the said publication is false, malicious, fabricated and designed to tarnish the good image and reputation of the NITT and to deviate attention from the laudable achievements of the current NITT leadership
NITT is the apex management development Institute for transport and logistics i industry in Nigeria and the West African Sub-region established in 1986 with a mandate to among other things address the problems of insufficient manpower in the transportation industry in Nigeria
In pursuit of this mandate, the Institute has over the years embarked on a number of collaborative programs including affiliation with the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria for its postgraduate diploma and masters degree programmes.
NITT also has similar relationships with many more institutions within and outside Nigeria.
It is the same drive that informed the long standing partnership between the NITT and the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) culminating in the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support the advancement of research, collaborations, staff development programmes and staff mobility and exchange.
The MoU was signed by the Director –General/Chief Executive of the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology, Dr Bayero Salih Farah and UTM Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Datuk Ts. Dr Ahmad Fauzi bin Ismail and witnessed by the Minister of State for Transportation, Prince Adegoroye Ademola Adewole and High Commissioner of Nigeria to Malaysia, Dr Hajara Ibrahim Salim
Among other benefits, the partnership would put NITT in the forefront in the field of logistics and transportation,and enhance new research and developments in Nigeria
Therefore it is inconceivable that someone would deliberately wish to denigrate the efforts of the Institutd by publishing false statements
It is even more disturbing that such publication would emanate from a sister institute which currently enjoys robust relationship with NITT.
We wonder why those behind the publication would do so at this period when Nigeria needs the support of the international community in its quest for advancement in education and research
Nevertheless, we want to assure the Nigerian public and the international community especially our partners and collaborators that we remain committed to efficient and effective research, training, consultancy and manpower development of Nigeria’s transportation and logistics industry in line with our core mandate.
Furthermore, we urge the public to disregard the false publication in its entirety because it lacks substance
Meanwhile, NITT would use every legal means to ensure that purveyors of the falsehood are brought to book.
SIgned
MANAGEMENT
NIGERIAN INSTITUTE OF TRANSPORT TECHNOLOGY ZARIA
