76 FUTO Students Earn First Class as University Prepares for 37th Convocation
The Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), is set for its 37th convocation ceremony, and the event will celebrate an impressive academic achievement as 76 students will receive first-class degrees. The ceremony is scheduled to take place on Friday, December 5, marking another major milestone in the institution’s academic history and growth.
As part of the celebration, top national figures will also be honoured. Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the President of Dangote Group, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, will receive honorary doctorate degrees (D.MT and D.Litt HC). In addition, Mrs. Ngozi Ekeoma will also be conferred with a D.MT (HC). These awards will be presented during the second day of the event on Saturday, December 6.
During a briefing held at the university’s Council Chamber, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Nnenna Oti, shared several updates about the convocation. She also announced that Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, will deliver the pre-convocation lecture titled “Beyond Oil: Exploring Alternative Revenue Potentials for Economic Growth and Sustainable Development in Nigeria.” This lecture will take place on Thursday and is expected to draw wide attention due to its relevance to Nigeria’s economic future.
Prof. Oti explained that this year’s convocation will admit 3,366 new students for first degrees and 542 students for higher degrees. She also used the opportunity to reflect on her achievements and challenges during her four and a half years as vice-chancellor. She said her leadership was guided by excellence, transparency, equity, and accountability, and she expressed pride in the significant progress made across the university.
According to her, FUTO has recorded major improvements in academic standards, staff and student welfare, infrastructure, and internal revenue generation. She highlighted increased industrial harmony, better host community relations, and the university’s rising national and global reputation. She also noted FUTO’s improved ranking by the Times Higher Education, where the university placed 14th nationally, while its graduates ranked second in the National Employability Index.
The vice-chancellor further revealed that the university successfully updated several academic programmes to align with global standards and NUC requirements. Under her tenure, FUTO established 17 new academic programmes, strengthened curriculum quality, and secured accreditation for several courses. She also noted the affiliation with the Federal College of Orthopaedic Technology, Igbobi, Lagos, which enabled the creation of a full-time B.Tech Prosthetics and Orthotics programme.
Prof. Oti said the university expanded its ICT and power infrastructure, improved student development programmes, and grew its capacity in academic and sports competitions. She noted that FUTO also established a Career Services and Counselling Centre to guide students on academic and career choices, leading to more student recognition both nationally and internationally.
Despite these achievements, she noted that FUTO still faces several challenges. These include the absence of a full perimeter fence, lack of staff quarters, poor internal road networks, and insufficient buildings at the new College of Medicine. She also mentioned that the university lacks adequate hostel accommodation for its growing population, highlighting the need for more support to address these issues.
