Vice-chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, (FUTO), Prof. Nnenna Oti, has said a total of 3,358 students will graduate at the institution’s 38th convocation.
This came as she prepares to leave office after a successful tenure marked by academic and infrastructural development.
The VC spoke during a pre-convocation press briefing held at the Council Chamber in Owerri, Imo State.
Oti described the event as emotional, highlighting that it coincides with the conclusion of her tenure as the university’s 8th substantive vice-chancellor.
She said, “This particular convocation holds something unique for me because it is holding as part of my end-of-tenure activities and offers me an opportunity to render my final account as I bow out as the 8th substantive Vice-Chancellor of this great institution that has offered me so much and given me several opportunities to serve humanity.”
According to the VC, 3,061 students will receive first degrees, while 297 candidates will be awarded higher degrees and postgraduate diplomas during the convocation scheduled for Saturday, June 6, 2026.
Prof. Oti stressed that the overall best graduating student for the 2024/2025 academic session is Onyeka Remigius Chinecherem of the Department of Optometry, who graduated with a CGPA of 4.91 on a scale of 5.0 respectively.
She stressed that the university would confer honorary doctorate degrees on three distinguished Nigerians in recognition of their contributions to national development and humanity.
The recipients are the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of Brittania-U Nigeria Limited, Barr. Mrs. Catherine Uju Ifejika, and Founder and CEO of MRS Holdings Limited, Alhaji Sayyu Idiris Dantata.
Reviewing the achievements of her administration, Prof. Oti revealed that FUTO’s national ranking had improved significantly in Nigeria from 34th to 11th by the Times Higher Education World University Ranking Agency.
“FUTO’s ranking moved from 34th to 11th in Nigeria by the Times Higher Education World University Ranking Agency, while our graduates rank second in the National Employability Index assessment”.
She submitted that the university secured 11 National Research Fund grants worth over N256 million in 2024 and won a total of 36 NRF awards within five years.
The vice chancellor stressed that the university established 17 new academic programmes and successfully upgraded the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, to the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Owerri (FUTHO).
She also revealed that FUTO now has 66 fully accredited programmes compared to 45 at the commencement of her administration. “Almost 100 per cent of our programmes now have full NUC and professional accreditation status,” she stated.
Speaking in respect of student admission, she highlighted that the university’s carrying capacity increased by more than 80 per cent, rising from over 5,000 in 2021 to more than 9,000 currently.
“Transcript processing time was reduced from three to six months to less than two weeks, while processing efficiency now stands at over 98 per cent”.
Prof. Oti disclosed the impact of FUTO’s Centres of Excellence, revealing that the university attracted multi-million-dollar investments through research and innovation programmes.
According to the VC, the FUTO Africa Centre of Excellence in Future Energies and Electrochemical Systems attracted funding valued at over $6 million and additional grants exceeding £1 million, while the Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Procurement, Environmental and Social Standards secured over $15 million in funding.
Prof. Oti also disclosed that massive infrastructure investments exceeding N150 billion were attracted from the Federal Government, TETFund, NDDC, private organisations, alumni and development partners.
She indicated that the university now enjoys uninterrupted electricity power supply.
“It gladdens my heart to inform this distinguished audience that FUTO now enjoys 24-hour uninterrupted power supply , achieved through the successful completion of the Energizing Education Programme Phase III Project and the installation of a 63MVA Mobile Substation”.
Prof. Oti commended President Bola Tinubu, TETFund, donor agencies, friends , staff, students and Chairman of the Governing Council, Senator Jack Tilley Gyado for identifying with the institution in achieving all round success.
