Nnenna Oti emerges new FUTO Vice-Chancellor | EduCeleb
EduCeleb
14th April 2021
The Governing Council of the Federal University of Technology Owerri has selected Professor Nnenna Oti as the new Vice-Chancellor for the Institution.
Pro-Chancellor and chairman of the Governing Council of the University, Professor John Offem announced this in Owerri at a news conference late Tuesday.
While announcing the result of the interview which was attended by seven shortlisted candidates, Offem said Professor Oti scored 75. 5 per cent to beat her closest rival Professor Ikechukwu Dozie who scored 69.7 per cent.
The Pro-Chancellor said the name of the new VC would be forwarded to the visitor to the University in line with the procedure.
Before her appointment, Professor Oti was the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic of the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO).
Offem said: “Following the directive of the council, the advertisement for the position of the Blu substantive Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, was placed in two national dailies of 10 December 2020 for interested candidates to apply.
“At the close of submissions, on Wednesday, January 20, 2021, 27 applications were received. The search team produced two other candidates, bringing the total number of applicants to 29.
“Council at its 184” meeting held, on Thursday, 18, March 2021 considered and approved the shortlist of seven candidates for the position of Vice-Chancellor for the next step, the interview stage.
“Earlier, on Tuesday, council and senate met separately and nominated two candidates each, who formed the five-man selection Board, chaired by my humble self.
“We interacted extensively with all the seven eminently qualified Professors at an interview session, at which the Federal Character Commission and the Representative of the Minister of Education in Council were observers,” he said.
Oti is a Professor of Soil Science and Environmental Conservation. She was a two-time Dean of Post-Graduate School.
She is a three-time Head of the Department of Soil Science and Technology in the School of Agricultural and Agriculture Technology (SAAT) and the immediate past chairman, Gender Policy Unit.
She holds a Bachelor of Agriculture degree (B.Agric) in Soil Science from the University of Nigeria Nsukka, UNN; (First Class Honours), Masters in Soil Science (Soil Biology and Biochemistry Option), UNN; a Postgraduate Diploma in Irrigation Engineering (Distinction) from Katholic University Leuven, Belgium and capped her academic laurels with a PhD in Soil and Environmental Conservation from FUTO.
Oti has over 34yrs in academics, teaching research and administration in the Nigerian university system with international exposure.
She has had hands-on experience working as a consultant to the government and private sector and various times in diverse capacities ranging from TETFund, Anambra Imo River Basin Development Authority, National Biotechnology Development Agency etc.
She has over 65 academic papers, 40 seminar and workshop papers, edited a handbook, 50 public lectures and over 10 technical reports for the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Born on November 15th, 1958 in Afikpo North Ebonyi State, she is married to Dr Nnannaya Oti and blessed with three children.
Oti will be the 8th substantive Vice-chancellor of the federal university of technology Owerri.