Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology (FUT) Minna, Prof. Muhammed Salihu Audu, has urged newly matriculated 2,698 students of the institution to shun all forms of social vices on the campus.

He gave the charge at the 26th matriculation of the students at the Gida Kwano, Minna main campus of the university on Friday.

The VC told the students that social vices such as examination malpractice, admission fraud, cultism, fighting, theft, assault, rumour mongering and illicit drug use should not be associated with them if they want to excel in their academics.

Audu said: "I admonish you not to associate with bad gangs or cult-related groups as the university only awards degrees to students who excelled both in character and learning."

According to him, the best way for the students to excel was to make maximum use of the libraries, laboratories, workshops and Information Technology Service Centres (ITS) to enhance their learning and research.

The registrar, Mrs. Victoria Kolo, administered the matriculation oath on the 2,698 students at the ceremony.

A breakdown of students that took the oath showed that School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology (SAAT) had 349, School of Engineering and Engineering Technology (SEET) 527, School of Environmental Technology (SET) 417, School of Applied and Natural Science (SANS) 703, School of Technology Education (STE) 150, School of Information and Communication Technology (SICT) 273 while School of Entrepreneurship and Management Technology (SEMT) had 279.