The Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) has entered into partnership with the Technical University, Munich, Germany and the Imo State Polytechnic Umuagwo to develop automobiles for the Sub-Saharan Africa.
The project according to the Vice Chancellor- Prof Cyril Gozie Asiabaka is aimed at solving the mobility needs of Nigerians in particular and other African countries such as Ghana and Kenya.
Professor Asiabaka who disclosed this while giving account of his stewardship in the past three years as the 6th substantive Vice Chancellor of the University said that the most important component of this global divine project is the infusion of local materials in its production, affordability, robust electronics, simple operation, climate/environmental friendliness and ultimately, its production in the region.
“As I speak, the project has reached an advanced stage and in a short while, the project would be unveiled” he assured.
In keeping with the vision of internationalization of University, the Vice Chancellor said that the institution and the Galilee International Management Institute (GIMI) had established a joint centre for the study of management.
He listed the main objectives of the Centre to include: teaching and researching in advanced subjects and methods in management including Human resources management, industrial management and high education management.
When operational, Asiabaka assured that the Centre would focus on new and innovative methods of managing organizations from the public as well as from the private sector and offer postgraduate programmes.
Professor Asiabaka who also spoke of his landmarks on students welfare, infrastructural development and beautification of the campus environment said that the successful computerization of all aspects of the university activities had formed one of the cardinal objectives of his quest for excellence. He said that the institution had in the past three years gradually moved rapidly in the use of computer in most of its activities in a bid to reduce high volume of paper work, from e-senate to e-appraisal, electronic payment of school fees and automatic generation of receipts.
Enumerating more of his achievements, the VC said that his administration had completed a new building complex for the School of Engineering and Engineering Technology (SEET) named “Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Engineering complex” which would accommodate six departments in the school, adding that the institution currently has a total of 27 on going projects out of which 14 had been completed .
Apart from the massive improvement of the level of infrastructure on campus and the attraction of more projects to meet the growing population within the university community, Prof Asiabaka said that he had painstakingly adhered to a well-defined corporate governance codes consistent with extent laws that regulate “our affairs in the university”.
