The Directorate of University Linkages and Advancement of the Federal University of Technology Owerri, Nigeria was established in September 2009 by Professor Celestine O.E. Onwuliri FAS, 5th Substantive Vice-Chancellor as a Directorate in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor. The Unit was established to explore opportunities for possible collaborations with institutions, agencies, industry and individuals, within and outside Nigeria for training and research and for overall development and advancement of the University.

Since inception, the Unit has continued to achieve her mandate of attracting viable mutually beneficial linkages and partnerships leading to a positive internationalization of the University as a world-class institution.

The Unit has been led by seasoned academics with Professor Moses O.E. Iwuala as pioneer Director. He was succeeded by Professor Ifeanyichukwu J. Ogoke as second Director.

It is notable that the Unit was merged with the Center for Research and International Development (CRID) by Professor Francis C. Eze, 7th Substantive Vice-Chancellor in July 2016 with Professor Emeka E. Oguzie as Director. However, in the spirit of driving the culture of excellence with an emphasis on deepening research and innovation in the University on one hand and encourage the Linkages and Advancement Unit to focus on its core mandate of internationalization and advancement on the other hand, the Unit was de-merged and re-established in July 2017 with Professor Ikechukwu N.S. Dozie as Director.