Born on November 15, 1958, in Afikpo North, Ebonyi State, Prof Nnenna Oti is the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State.
She has a Bachelor of Agriculture degree in Soil Science, finishing with a first class from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State.
She went on to receive a Master’s degree in Social Science, with options in Soil Biology and Biochemistry, from the same university.
Oti also has a postgraduate diploma in Irrigation Engineering from the Catholic University, Leuven, in Belgium. She later bagged a doctorate in Soil and Environmental Conservation from the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State.
Prof Oti has spent over 34 years in academics, teaching research and administration within and outside Nigeria.
She has also had practical experience working as a consultant to the government and private sector at various times in diverse capacities. Some of the places she worked include the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, the Anambra Imo River Basin Development Authority, and the National Biotechnology Development Agency.
She has written over 65 academic papers, and 40 seminar and workshop papers, edited a handbook, given over 50 public lectures, and authored over 10 technical reports for the Federal Government.
Before she emerged as the first female vice-chancellor of FUTO, she was a three-time head of the school’s Department of Soil Science and Technology. She also chaired the Gender Policy Unit of the institution and was the dean of its post-graduate school.
She succeeded Prof Francis Eze, whose tenure expired in June 2021. The university don beat her closest rival Prof Ikechukwu Dozie who scored 69.7 percent to the seat, having scored 75.5 percent, in a race contested by six candidates.
Oti is married to Dr. Nnannaya Oti, and their marriage is blessed with three children
