NUC Approves 12 New Degree Programmes for FUTIA

The National Universities Commission has approved 12 additional degree programmes for the Federal University of Technology, Ikot Abasi (FUTIA) to run from the 2026/2027 academic session. The university announced the approval in a statement dated 14 October 2026, signed by its Registrar, Offiongita Nkang, and asked 2026 UTME candidates who want any of the new courses to switch into them on JAMB CAPS.

According to reports, the approval came in an NUC letter dated 11 September 2026, issued after a resource verification visit to the university in Akwa Ibom State.

The 12 approved programmes

According to reports, the programmes approved for the 2026/2027 session are:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Computer Engineering
• Materials and Metallurgical Engineering
• Mechatronics Engineering
• Chemistry
• Industrial Chemistry
• Environmental Management Technology
• Biotechnology
• Environmental Health Science
• Health Information Management
• Community Health Science
• Estate Management

The university's own announcement, as reproduced in reports, named only Materials and Metallurgical Engineering and Environmental Management Technology. The other ten names come from other outlets, so the complete list should be treated as reported rather than as a list published by the university or the NUC.

Reports also differ on the award titles attached to the courses. One outlet lists B.Eng., B.Sc., B.EHS., B.HIM. and B.CHS. abbreviations, while the university's own announcement used only the B.Eng. and B.Sc. forms.

FUTIA now runs 36 approved programmes

With the new approval, FUTIA now runs 36 NUC-approved degree programmes, according to reports. The university began its pioneer academic session in 2023/2024, so the 36-programme total comes roughly four years later.

Reports disagree on how long the university has been in existence. One account describes it as four years old in its opening line but five years in the body, while others say five. FUTIA was approved as a federal institution in June 2021 but only started teaching in the 2023/2024 session.

Who is affected

The directive covers candidates who sat the 2026 UTME. Those who want any of the new courses are told to change their course of choice to that programme at FUTIA through JAMB CAPS.

Candidates who did not put FUTIA first but scored at least 160 in the 2026 UTME may also apply, by switching their first-choice institution to FUTIA through the JAMB portal or CAPS.

The reports did not state an application fee, a portal link, subject-combination requirements, O'Level requirements, or any UTME score rule beyond the 160 mark. Candidates should confirm those details with JAMB and the university before acting.

Screening of newly admitted candidates

One report says physical screening of newly admitted candidates is taking place at the university. It runs from Monday 12 October to Friday 23 October 2026 at the Takeoff Campus in Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State, starting at 8:00 a.m. each day.

The same report says candidates who chose FUTIA as first choice should check their admission status on the JAMB portal.

Senate passes FUTIA bill

In a separate development reported the same week, the Senate passed a bill giving the university a legal Act. The bill was sponsored by Senator Ekong Sampson (Akwa Ibom South) and passed on a Thursday.

The passage was announced by Sampson's media aide, Samuel Udoma. The Vice-Chancellor called it the year's biggest gift from the National Assembly.

FUTIA was among the federal institutions approved by former President Muhammadu Buhari in June 2021, but had been operating without an Act of Parliament until this bill.

What the vice-chancellor said

Vice-Chancellor Professor Leo Daniel welcomed the NUC approval, saying it widens access to education for the host community, Akwa Ibom, the South-South and beyond. The university describes him as Nigeria's first Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

He thanked the management team, the Academic Board, the Governing Council and other stakeholders for helping to secure the approval. The university said the extra programmes will boost teaching, research, manpower development and community service.

What candidates should do

Candidates who want one of the new programmes should act on JAMB CAPS rather than wait for a separate application notice. No fee, subject combination or O'Level requirement was stated in the reports, so confirm those with JAMB and the university's admissions office before you travel for screening.

Steps to Change your course or institution on JAMB CAPS

1. If you want a newly approved FUTIA course, log in to JAMB CAPS and change your course of choice to that programme at FUTIA.
2. If you did not pick FUTIA as first choice and scored at least 160 in the 2026 UTME, change your first-choice institution to FUTIA through the JAMB portal or CAPS.
3. If you chose FUTIA first, check whether you have been offered admission on the JAMB portal.
4. If you are admitted, accept the offer on JAMB CAPS.
5. Then go to the Takeoff Campus in Ikot Abasi with the relevant documents for physical screening, between 12 and 23 October 2026, from 8:00 a.m.

Written on October 19, 2026. Rules and dates can change, so confirm on the official site before you act.