FUTO plans teaching hospital, warns land grabbers

Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), Prof. Nnenna Oti, has said that plans have reached an advanced stage for the establishment of the institution’s teaching hospital.

She also warned land grabbers to steer clear of the land allocated to the institution, stressing that the lands must remain intact.

Oti disclosed this, yesterday, while briefing journalists on the university’s 33rd convocation ceremony slated for tomorrow, adding that necessary arrangements were being made to ensure that the hospital was equipped with facilities to offer superior service. 

She noted that the university has achieved a lot within the few months of assuming office, stressing that no fewer than 64 students, who made first-class honours will have their degrees conferred on them on Saturday.

She disclosed that Osuigwe Chisom Henry of the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering emerged as the best graduating student in the 2019/2020 academic session having secured a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.96.

Overall, she explained that of the 4, 032 students, who would be conferred with degrees, 380 would receive first degrees, 42 would be conferred with Ph.Ds, 219 would receive M.Sc, M. Tech, M.P.H, M. Eng and MBA, while 119 would be conferred with Post Graduate Diplomas (PGDs), among other categories.

She said since assuming office in June, she had established a College of Medicine, with a proposition for a Teaching Hospital, the establishment of the School of Electrical Systems Engineering Technology, Departments of Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Telecommunications Engineering, Computer Engineering and Mechatronics Engineering.

Others are the School of Logistics and Innovation Technology, housing Departments of Logistics and Transport Technology, Project Management and Technology, Supply Chain Management and Technology Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Centre of Excellence on Local Materials Substitution initiated by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).

Oti pledged that in spite of funding challenges, FUTO was determined to be the university of the first choice in technology education and global brand.

“We, therefore, appeal to corporate organisations and philanthropists for assistance to deepen our quest for home-grown technological solutions and innovations to the next phase of industrial and ICT revolution in the country,” she added.