By Linda Ene Ajaka
The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Transportation, Daura (FUTD), Hon. Prof. Umar Adam Katsayal, mni, has inaugurated a high-powered research team to explore the historical dynamics of Trans-Saharan Trade and its relevance to contemporary African development. The team, comprising renowned researchers from Nigeria, West Africa, and Pan-African institutions, will provide a comprehensive framework for organizing and executing the research project.
In his inaugural address, Prof. Katsayal welcomed the Principal Investigator, Prof. Yakubu Ocheifu Aboki, and other team members, emphasizing the significance of the project in shaping the research direction of FUTD, Africa’s first University of Transportation. He urged the team to work diligently to meet the project deadline, leveraging their expertise and experience in Nigerian history.
The research project aims to address four critical questions through fieldwork, collaborative presentations, panel discussions, and working group sessions. Prof. Katsayal noted that the project will also serve as a foundation for research by FUTD staff, aligning with the institution’s transportation focus.
Prof. Aboki, the Principal Investigator, expressed gratitude to the Vice-Chancellor and FUTD management for the opportunity to lead the team. He assured that the team is committed to delivering quality research, highlighting the significance of the project in promoting African development. He also noted that it was his first visit to Daura, despite the Local Government’s long history in Katsina State.
This is the second research team inaugurated by Prof. Katsayal, demonstrating his commitment to establishing FUTD as a hub for innovative research and development. The team was constituted by the Vice-Chancellor as part of efforts to establish research directions for FUTD, focusing on areas with limited prior research.
