BY JOSEPH ODOEKWU
The Federal University of Technology Owerri Alumni Association (FUTOAA) recently concluded its 2025 Homecoming and Convention in Owerri, focusing on entrepreneurship, employment, and international scholarship opportunities for students and recent graduates.
Engr. Prof. Laz Uzoechi, the National President of FUTOAA, highlighted these key areas during a press conference. He noted that the three-day event, which took place from August 14th to 16th, featured a pivotal mentorship program where alumni engaged directly with students.
The mentorship program emphasized the importance of students becoming job creators rather than job seekers. Participants were encouraged to embrace an entrepreneurial spirit and strive for excellence in all their endeavors.
Prof. Uzoechi also addressed graduates seeking employment, reassuring them that the FUTO brand is a valuable asset. “The FUTO ‘yellow certificate’ has the capacity to open doors anywhere it is presented,” he stated, adding that FUTO is ranked as the second most employable university in Nigeria.
“There are no established and multinational companies you go to in Nigeria that you will not see a FUTO graduate,” he said. “We are everywhere, and we can beat our chest and say the FUTO brand is working and, if not the best, among the best in this country.”
Prof. Uzoechi urged all FUTO graduates to identify with the alumni association. He explained that active participation is crucial for the association to provide effective support, particularly regarding employment issues.
“We have also created an opportunity for our fresh graduates to meet for employment issues,” he said. “If you do not come and identify with the alumni, we will not know the situation you are finding yourself in, and we can also speak for those who identify with us.”
He concluded with a call to action, encouraging alumni to unite to strengthen the FUTO network and “take over the realm of most of the established companies in this country.”
Prof. Uzoechi noted that the mentorship program is a long-standing tradition within the association, with past initiatives yielding positive results, such as placing students in industry-based programs where they gained experience and received stipends. The 2025 homecoming was an opportunity to continue and build upon this valuable tradition.
