By ohanele casca
The premier University of Technology in Nigeria, the Federal University of Technology Owerri, yesterday 26th February, 2014 matriculated about 5072 students in the school of Agriculture, Engineering, Environmental Technology, Health Technology, Management Technology and school of science.
Delivering his well articulated address at the grand matriculation held at the school convocation area, the vice chancellor of FUTO, Prof Chigozie Asiabaka congratulated the matriculants for being among the lucky ones from the more than 30,000 candidates that applied in FUTO as their first choice University in the last Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination,UTME as he urged them to maintain the good work and wonderful performances that earned them the opportunity in FUTO.
Prof Asiabaka appreciated the parents and friends who came to share in the happy and historic occasion of receiving their ward as bona-fide members of FUTO Community.
Recollecting the mandate of FUTO, the VC noted that the 32nd matriculation is in line with the present administration in FUTO which came on board in June 2011, resolve to give meaning and realistic emphasis on the cardinal objectives for which the University was founded in 1980 which is inculcating in the students, sound theoretical knowledge, practical and innovative skills as well as good moral traits.
Prof Asiabaka noted the overwhelming encouragement of the federal government under President Goodluck Jonathan which among other things includes the N2.6 Billion from federal government to FUTO for capital projects, the building of Hotels by NDDC, to ease accommodation problems in the school, among others. The exquisite lecture halls, centre for Entrepreneurial Studies, the Premier Guest House of the University, Landscaping, Facelift to Internal roads network on campus, development and furnishing of laboratories, the VC noted were other practical efforts of his administration and the federal government geared towards repositioning the institution to assume its status as a world class University.
The VC noted the school of Engineering Complex to be commissioned soon which he said was among the intervention by TETFUND.
The VC therefore advised the students to reciprocate and appreciate the bold efforts and gestures of the university authorities and the federal government by living up to the matriculation oath and pledge by avoiding things that has the tendency to disrupt the school activities. He adviced them to avoid irrelevant journeys, vices, avoidable social activities and be faithful to their studies.
Some of the matriculants Peace Enyinnaya , Jude Chukwuemeka Enyinnaya and Chibuike Asimonye of Engineering expressed joy that God has done it for them promising to put in their best to come out from FUTO in flying colours.
Addressing journalists, the Deputy Registrar, Coordinator IPPA and PRO of FUTO, Mr Chike Ezenwa noted that the 32nd matriculation is in line with the present administration’s Culture of Excellence. He described the event as a remarkable success which confirms the quality of leadership of the Vice Chancellor, Prof Asiabaka and his team that runs an open door, democratic, decentralized administration that carries everybody along which is reflected by the level of cooperation that saw to the success of the event. The PRO noted that the paucity of funds has been the challenge to the administration’s urgent craves to lift the stand of the school which runs major programme in oil and gas, insurance and other NIMASA endorsed programmes. He added that with the round peg in a round hole in the person of Prof Asiabaka as VC, FUTO has revolutionalized its infrastructures to the admiration of the federal government and the university community.
In another development at the matriculation, the Parents / Management Forum commended the FUTO authority for providing a forum for parents and management of FUTO to rub minds to review progress, problems of the university that adversely affect students’ welfare and seek joint solutions in the interest of peace, stability and development of the university.
The forum suggested the need for armed policemen to be stationed at the entrance gates of the University and a security patrol van to be used to patrol the campus. The PMF called for urgent rehabilitation of the school back gate and the introduction of tallies to motorist entering and leaving the campus to avoid security lapses at FUTO.
