Federal Polytechnic Ayede, Oyo State, has recorded a significant global academic milestone as one of its senior scholars, Dr. Mufutau Akanmu Popoola, represented the institution at the 9th World Islamic Economics & Finance Conference (WIEFC 2026) held at Minhaj University, Lahore, Pakistan—a prestigious international forum on sustainability, finance, and socioeconomic inclusion.
The globally acclaimed conference, themed “Sustainability, Climate & Socioeconomic Inclusion,” convened leading scholars, economists, and policy experts from across continents to deliberate on sustainability-driven Islamic finance, climate risk management, ESG screening, artificial intelligence applications, micro-takaful, entrepreneurship, and inclusive economic growth.
Dr. Popoola presented a scholarly paper during Technical Session II, sharing the stage with renowned academics from Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Pakistan, and Nigeria. His participation earned him a Certificate of Appreciation from the conference Organising Committee, presented by the leadership of Minhaj University Lahore, in recognition of his intellectual contribution to global discourse.
The session was chaired by Dr. Zaheer Anwer of Sunway University, Malaysia, while keynote addresses were delivered by Dr. Muhamed Zulkhibri Abdul Majid, Senior Economist at the Islamic Development Bank, Saudi Arabia, and Dr. Mohd Fauzi Abu-Hussin of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.
Speaking at the conference, Dr. Popoola expressed profound appreciation to the leadership of Federal Polytechnic Ayede and the Federal Government for creating an enabling environment for academic excellence.
“I sincerely appreciate the Pioneer Rector of Federal Polytechnic Ayede for his visionary leadership and relentless support for staff development and global academic exposure. I also thank the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for making this international participation possible,” he said.
He specifically acknowledged the management of TETFund for its continued investment in research, capacity building, and international visibility of Nigerian tertiary institutions.
In his reaction, the Pioneer Rector of Federal Polytechnic Ayede, Engr. Dr. Taofeek Adekunle Abdul-Hameed (FNSE), described the international recognition as a proud moment for the institution and a validation of its academic trajectory.
“This achievement reflects our commitment to
building a globally competitive institution. I appreciate His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed
Tinubu, for his steadfast commitment to revitalising Nigeria’s education sector,” the Rector stated.
He also commended the leadership of the education sector and TETFund for prioritising human capital development.
“I equally commend the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, and the Executive Secretary, Arc. Sonny Echono of TETFund for their continuous support for academic research, innovation, and international engagement. These interventions are repositioning Nigerian institutions for global relevance,” he added.
At the conclusion of the technical session, appreciation shields were formally presented to session chairs, discussants, and presenters—further reinforcing the high scholarly standards of the engagement.
The participation of Federal Polytechnic Ayede at WIEFC 2026 underscores the institution’s rising profile as a hub for research excellence, global collaboration, and policy-relevant scholarship, under the strategic leadership of its Pioneer Rector.
As the institution continues its steady ascent, this international outing stands as a testament to the impact of purposeful leadership, effective government support, and TETFund’s transformative role in advancing Nigerian higher education on the world stage.
