Federal University of Technology Owerri


The Federal University of Technology Owerri is a federal government university located in Owerri West, the capital of Imo State. 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.
FUTO began with 225 students and 60 staff. 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 University 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. The current vice-chancellor is Professor Francis C. Eze.

History

The University was founded in 1980. It later merged with Alvan Ikoku College of Education Owerri, absorbing the latter's students.
It is one of the premier technological universities in western Africa. 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

Vision

The Federal University of Technology, Owerri is a specialized and purpose-oriented institution, with its main thrust as Science and Technological Development aimed at training and equipping high level skilled and technology manpower for contributing significantly to the development of the society and promoting national economy and progress.

Mission Statement

To operate practical and training geared towards transforming the nation’s economy from consumer-oriented to production-oriented, with a sound technological base.

Faculty

The university has eight colleges:
The University Library serves as the pivot of academic pursuit. It was opened to students at the Lake Nwaebere campus of the University on the 9th of November,1981. The Pioneer University Librarian was Mr Joseph Chike Anafulu. The Library consists of three main blocks -Library Phases II & IV and the E-Library.

Inaugural Lectures

The following Inaugural lectures have been presented in the Federal University of Technology Owerri:
LecturerTopicDate
C.O.G. ObahCommunication in the service of a NationDec 17, 1986.
E.O.I BanigoFood Processing and Preservation, Paths to self SufficiencyJanuary 18,1989.
V.O NwokeWhere Rust Doth CorruptNov. 14, 1990
S.C.O UgbolueIn the thrones of Polymer and Textiles
O.O OnyemobiMineral Resources Exploitation, Processing and Utilization :
A SineQua Nun for Nigeria's Industrial Development
July 17, 2002
A.B.I UdedibieIn Search of Food: FUTO and the Nutritional Challenge of Canavalia SeedsSept. 18, 2003
E.O.N OkoraforExpendable Polystyrene Pattern Casting Process: A revolution in metal castingMarch, 17 2004
P.B.U AchiAcquisition of Indigenous Machinery Design Manufacturing: The Engineering Education and Training PerspectiveJune 28, 2004
M.I NwuforSecuring the Harvest to ensure food for all : A Plant pathologist's Perspective
Iloeje, M. U.The Chicken or the Egg: Nature and Nurture: New Genetic Spreadsheets and Gene
Pools in the Breeding and Evolution of a New Nigeria-Man
Nov. 17, 2004
Uzuegbu, J. O.
Salvaging Our Food from Fungal Rot, to Ensure Food Security
Oct. 29, 2008
C.S NwadiaroInland water Data base as a Sine Qua Non for Fisheries Development in NigeriaMarch 7, 2009
M.C OfohFood Security and Mitigation of Climate change through ecosystem based agricultureMay 27, 2009
Okoro, C. C.Universities as Effective Centres for Science and Technology DevelopmentFeb. 29, 2009
Anyanwu, B. N.Instilling Moral Ethnics in the University Community: A Sine Qua Non
for National Growth and Development
June 10, 2010
Onuoha, Goddy N.
The Chemical Pathway: Small Changes that made a Difference
March 27, 2013
Eze, Christopher CAgricultural Finance: a Panacea for Agricultural and Rural Development March 26, 2014
Agwu, Amadi N
Environmental Health and Sanitation as Panacea to Disease Control and Prevention
July 23, 2014
Onyeka, Eucheria UFood Security: Concerns and Comforts in Food ProcessingApril 27,2016
Asoegwu, S. N.Leveraging Food Security Challenges in Nigeria:Through Agricultural Production, Processing and Storage for Mitigating Economic RecessionOct, 24,2018
Dozie, I. N.S
Microorangisms, Microbial Products and Chronic Disabling Diseases of Humans: New Insights
June 26, 2019
Oti, N. N.Man and His Environment: A Soil Scientist’s Search for AnswersSept 18, 2019

Vice-chancellors

The National University Commission, the body responsible for universities in Nigeria, has not done an official ranking of Nigerian universities in over 14 years.
However, FUTO is currently ranked the 18th best university in Nigeria, according to 4icu.org.ng.

Notable alumni