Akume, Dangote Receive Honorary Doctorates At Owerri Varsity

A total of 76 graduates of the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) have made first class degrees in various academic disciplines, just as the secretary to the government of the federation, Senator George Akume, business mogul, Alhaji  Aliko Dangote and Mrs Ngozi Ekeoma are to receive honorary doctorate degrees.

The vice chancellor of the institution, Prof. (Mrs.) Nnenna  Oti disclosed this while briefing newsmen on a week-long series of activities marking the 37th Convocation ceremony of the university.

The VC stressed that Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti has been selected to deliver a convocation lecture entitled “Beyond Oil, Exploring Alternative Revenue Potentials for Economic Growth and Sustainable Development In Nigeria.”

Oti, a professor of Soil Science and the 8th substantive vice chancellor of the university, said that a total of 3,366 and 542 fresh students would be admitted into the first degrees and higher degrees of the institution during the ceremony.

Enumerating the high points of her administration’s achievements since she assumed office four years ago(2021) and the odds that confronted her, the Vice Chancellor said that through divine grace, strong convictions and her indomitable spirit she was able to weather the storm, and dismissed the narrative of fear and doubt.

She said, “Anchored on my administrative and philosophical mantra of consolidating the culture of excellence, I provided compassionate and inspiring leadership guided by the principles of good governance, strict adherence to the rule of law, equity and fairness, inclusivity, transparency, accountability and efficient service delivery.”

“In the last four and half years, my administration has verifiably turned around for good, the fortunes of our dear university through sustained academic growth, physical infrastructural development, enhanced staff and students’ welfare, financial discipline, increased internally generated Revenue(IGR) improved Host Community and labour relations, increased industrial harmony and a renewed momentum to raise the university’s corporate profile on national and global stage.”

Speaking on academic development in the institution, Oti said that the university apart, from being ranked No 14 in the country by the Times Higher Education, the world University Ranking Agency, it’s graduates ranked 2nd in a recent National Employability Index assessment, just as it emerged 3rd in the Tertiary Education Trust Fund(TETFund) National Research Funds, 2024 grant circle.

She boasted that her administration has significantly improved in the academic contents and programmes in the university in line with NUC templates and global trends through the creation and introduction of new courses, enhancement of curriculum of some existing programmes and successful resource verification  and accreditation exercises, culminating in the establishment of 17 new academic programmes, affiliation with the Federal College of Orthopaedic Technology, Igbobi, Lagos for the establishment of full-time mode of the B. Tech. Prosthetics and Orthotics Programme as well as the establishment of FUTO career services and counselling centre(CSCC) for advising and counselling students.

Additionally, the FUTO VC said that the university, had scaled through the NUC professional and global accreditation, gained international recognition and accreditation with an increase in admission quota/carrying capacity.