Federal University of Technology Owerri

Federal University of Technology Owerri

Motto	Technology For Service
Type	Public
Established	1980
Vice-Chancellor	Professor Francis Chukwuemeka Eze
Location	Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria
Campus	Urban
Nickname	FUTO
Website	http://www.futo.edu.ng

The Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) is a federal government university located in Owerri, the capital of Imo State.^[1] The University is bounded by the communities of Eziobodo, Umuchima, Ihiagwa and Obinze, in Imo State, Nigeria. It is the premier federal university of technology in the south east and south south parts of Nigeria.

The Federal University of Owerri is the Oldest University of Technology in Nigeria and was established in 1980 by Executive fiat with the composition and appointment of the first provisional Council by Nigeria’s First Executive President, Shehu Shagari. It became the first of three such Universities set up by the Federal Government of Nigeria who sought to establish a University of Technology in each geo-political region and particularly in a State which did not have a conventional University.^[2]

FUTO began with 225 students and 60 staff (28 academic and 32 non-academic). Like other federal universities in Nigeria, FUTO is headed by a Chancellor who is usually a royal father, and followed by a Vice Chancellor who oversees the daily activities of the university.

The school also has a senate, which is the highest decision making arm of the University. FUTO students are fondly called Futoites and they number over 22,000. FUTO has over 50 professors.^[1] The current vice-chancellor is Professor Francis C. Eze.^[3]

History

The university was founded in 1980.^[4] It later merged with Alvan Ikoku College of Education Owerri, absorbing the latter's students.^[5]

It is one of the premier technological universities in western Africa.^[6] Its student body comprises people from all over west Africa and beyond. It is the only federal university of technology in the south-east of Nigeria, and one of the oldest in West Africa.

The university is known for its technologically strong graduates, evidenced by the large number of its alumni currently in oil and gas companies in Nigeria. The largest percentage of engineers in most oil companies in Nigeria are FUTO alumni.^[7][8]

Faculty

The university has eight colleges:

• School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology (SAAT)^[9]
• School of Engineering and Engineering Technology (SEET)^[10]
• School of Physical Sciences (SOPS)^[11]
• School of Biological Sciences (SOBS)^[12]
• School of Management and Management Technology (SMAT)^[13]
• School of Health (SOHT)^[14]
• School of Environmental Science (SOES)^[15]
• School of Basic Medical Sciences (SBMS)^[16]

Vice-chancellors

• Prof. U.D. Gomwalk (1980–1986)
• Prof. Amah Nduka (1986–1991)
• Prof. O.G. Oba (1992–1999)
• Prof. Jude Njoku (2000–2005)
• Late Prof. C.E.O. Onwuliri (2006–2011)
• Prof. C.C. Asiabaka (2011–2016)
• Prof. Francis Chukwuemeka Eze (2016–present)

Nigerian universities ranking

At the beginning of 2011, the national university commission (NUC), the body responsible for universities in Nigeria, ranked FUTO as the 48th best university in the country. By May 2013, it was ranked as the 12th best university in the country. However, in the ranking by the NUC released in July 2015, FUTO was ranked 23rd.^[17]

FUTO is currently ranked the 7th best university in the Nigeria, according to 4icu.org.ng.^[18]

Notable alumni

• Smart Adeyemi – politician
• Uche Chukwumerije – politician
• Paul Obiefule – football player
• Ndubuisi Ekekwe – professor

References

External links

• Federal University of Technology, Owerri