A remarkable history was recorded at the Federal University of Technology Owerri on Tuesday, April 13, 2021. It was the first time that a female emerged as the Vice-Chancellor of the foremost University of Technology in Nigeria.
Out of seven candidates, the Amazon was selected by the 11th Governing Council of FUTO in a rigorous process that spanned many months. Her name is Prof. Mrs. Nnenna Nnannaya Oti. The Vice Chancellor - designate is currently the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC) on Academics.
Her appointment as DVC - Academics was also the first time that a female occupied that position and she has held that post since July 3, 2020. She is indeed a woman of many firsts, as even her academic prowess attests to the assertion.
Prof. Mrs. Nnenna Oti has come a long way as a seasoned academic whose sterling academic records have remained impressive and outstanding since she joined FUTO on 1st November, 1990 from the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN).
A highly seasoned, versatile and accomplished scholar, she is a professor of Soil Science and Environmental Conservation, who made a First Class Honours Degree in Soil Science in 1982 from the University of Nigeria Nsukka.
In the course of her academic pursuit, she won and enjoyed many academic awards for excellence and they include: Imo State Government Scholarship, 1977; Federal Government Merit Award, 1978; Best Graduating Student Faculty of Agriculture University of Nigeria Nsukka prize, 1982; the United African Company of Nigeria Ltd. (U.A.C) for Best Student in Agriculture, 1982; Best Graduating Student Department of Soil Science 1982; European Economic Community (EEC) Scholarship for Developing Countries 1986; Not done yet, she won the World Bank Grant for Oversea Development of Academic Staff 1996, and was a onetime nominee for Rockefeller Foundation supported grant to Association of African Universities.
She is a recipient of the Federal University of Technology, Staff Scholarship for PhD studies. In 2002, the erudite professor achieved an uncommon academic feat by winning the National Universities Commission’s (NUC) Best PhD award in Nigeria.
She is a renowned Consultant/Public Speaker for State and Federal Government of Nigeria Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Religious, Socio-Cultural and Non-Governmental Organizations.ß eProfessor Mrs. Oti has held numerous positions which include three-time Head of Department of Soil Science and Technology; four years as Dean of Postgraduate School, FUTO (2016-2020); Chairman, Committee of Deans, FUTO (2019-2020), member of the University Senate, member, Joint Council/Senate Committees and former Director of University Examinations, FUTO (2011-2012).
She is an affiliate of several local and international professional bodies including being a Fellow of the Soil Science Society of Nigeria (FSSSN); and a Registered Soil Scientist (RSS). Prof. Oti enjoys the membership of the following: Agricultural Society of Nigeria (ASN); International Soil Science Society (ISSS); Soil Science Society of America (SSSA); Crop Science Society of America (CSSA); Agronomy Society of America (ASA); Soil Science Society of Belgium (SSSB) and many others.
She had also served as a Csonsultant to National Biotechnology Development Agency, NABDA, (2001-2005); Education Trust Fund (ETF now TETFund, 2009-2012) and a regular Resource Person to the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC, 2008-2012) on good governance issues and anti-corruption drives.
Prof. Mrs. Oti was a visiting Scholar to School of Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, Columbus Ohio USA (1996-1997); and a visiting professor at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike Umuahia (2013-2015). She was also a distinguished delegate to the 2014 National Conference where the amiable the amiable professor helped develop a Blueprint for the Great Nigeria our dreams.
The very jovial, friendly and eminently qualified professor has over thirty four (34) years of academic teaching/research and administrative experience with over sixty five (65) academic papers; forty (40) seminar/workshop papers, fifty (50) public lectures and over ten (10) technical reports for the Federal Government of Nigeria, all to her credit.
She has also attended several National and International Conferences/workshops and has also participated in Capacity Building Programmes within and outside Nigeria. The list here is also endless.
The vibrant academic hails from Afikpo, Ebonyi State. She is a devout Christian who believes in family values as well as a lover of sports. She is happily married to Pastor Nnannaya Oti, a renowned Architect by profession; and the marriage is blessed with three children.
Uche Bright-Nwelue, is the Public Relations Officer (PRO), FUTO.
