…By Ayobami Orebiyi

The Rector and Management of the Federal College of Dental Technology and Therapy, Enugu paid a courtesy visit to the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology Owerri, Prof Francis C. Eze on Tuesday, January 15, 2019.

Speaking, the Rector of the College Mr John Emimo thanked the Vice-Chancellor for the reception as well as for responding to their messages despite his very tight schedule. He spoke briefly on the History of the College which he said was established in 1952 in England, brought down to Lagos for a proper operation in 1965 as the Centre of Excellence in Africa to train two categories of health care workers in Africa the Dental Technologists and Therapists adding that it has been playing that role effectively.

The Rector spoke about an Act to upgrade the College from a Higher National Diploma a Degree awarding institution which was signed on December 25, 2017, adding that the programmes have increased from the two originally established, to six. He requested the University to accept an affiliation as a mentoring process which he believes is the easiest way for students to gain a university degree, given the fact that many graduates of the College hold only Higher National Diploma. He added that graduates with degrees in Dental Technology do not have a window of moving ahead to be able to feed the course the way it should be. According to him, the Management of the College decides on FUTO because of an existing relationship between the two Institutions and hoped their request will be granted.

In his response, the Vice-Chancellor described FUTO as a brand name that is being sought after all over the globe adding that the programmes were well conceived to feed the technological needs of Nigeria. He commended their hard work towards getting the parliament to pass the Act into law and stating that it was the beginning of the entire journey. The Vice-Chancellor expressed delight with the recommendation from the report adding that FUTO would strengthen the College programmes by building on what they already have and assured them of setting the tape rolling as soon as the strike was called off.

Meanwhile, on Friday, April 12, 2019, the Rector and Management of the College were in FUTO again, this time to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Federal University of Technology Owerri and the Federal College of Dental Technology and Therapy, Enugu. The Vice Chancellor Prof. Francis Chukwuemeka Eze expressed delight and hoped that it would go a long way in strengthening the relationship between both Institutions.

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