FUTO Alumni Unveil Proposed ₦10bn Endowment Fund, Pledge More Support for Alma Mater

The FUTO Alumni Association has announced plans to establish a proposed ₦10 billion “Endowment Fund for Excellence” to support infrastructure, research, scholarships, staff development and other strategic priorities of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO).

The National President of the Association, Engr. Prof. Laz Uzoechi, announced the initiative on Monday, September 28, 2026 when he led members of the Alumni Association on a visit to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. I.N.S. Dozie, to congratulate him on his appointment and pledge their support to his administration.

Prof. Uzoechi said the proposed endowment had passed the blueprint development and programme of action stages, indicating the Association’s intention to establish a more structured mechanism for supporting the University's development.

According to him, half of the proposed fund would support the University’s infrastructure and laboratories, scholarships for indigent students, postgraduate research grants, staff development and research seed funding, as well as initiatives to help retain highly skilled academics and professionals.

The remaining half, he said, would be committed to the development of an Alumni Advancement and Innovation Hub on the FUTO campus, designed to cement the Alumni’s presence and contribution to the University’s development.

Prof. Uzoechi said the Association was motivated by the contributions of FUTO graduates across the country and beyond, noting that FUTO alumni occupy leadership positions in corporate organisations, technology hubs, engineering firms, oil and gas companies, fintech enterprises, manufacturing concerns, public service, and academia.

“Despite economic challenges, FUTO Alumni have consistently given back,” he said. “We have performed modestly, but we know we can do more, especially with purposeful leadership from this administration… We did not come to complain; we came to commit,” he added.

As an immediate demonstration of that commitment, the Alumni Association donated five public address systems and seven whiteboards to the University. Prof. Uzoechi described the Alumni Association as the University's "largest faculty", "reserve army" and “bank of goodwill”, stressing that the body remained a partner in advancing FUTO’s development.

Responding, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. I.N.S. Dozie, thanked the Alumni for their visit, support, and contributions to the University, and expressed appreciation for the donated equipment.

Prof. Dozie said his administration is committed to leaving FUTO better than it met it, and called for sustained engagement with the Alumni in advancing the University's critical needs.

“I am committed to placing FUTO at the forefront of technological revolution as envisaged in its mandate. I will lead by example, I will be intentional, and I will prioritise institutional development as encapsulated in my strategic blueprint for the University,” he said.

The Vice-Chancellor expressed delight at the engagement and assured the Alumni Association of continued opportunities for dialogue and collaboration in the interest of the University.

The Chairman of the Alumni Board of Trustees, Engr. Chibuike Achigbu, and the Association’s first elected National President, Chief Dr. Victor Ijieh, also delivered goodwill messages and offered perspectives on issues concerning the development of the University.