Marcel Duru Owerri
The Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Imo State Council, on Monday, August 10, 2026, paid a courtesy visit to the newly appointed Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), Professor Dozie Ikechukwu Simplicity, at the university’s Senate Building.The visit provided an opportunity for the Correspondents Chapel to formally welcome the new Vice-Chancellor and discuss areas of collaboration between the university management and the media.Receiving the journalists, the Vice-Chancellor expressed appreciation for the visit, noting that although the visit was somewhat impromptu, he was pleased to receive the members of the Correspondents Chapel despite having several other courtesy visits scheduled.Professor Simplicity emphasized the importance of working closely with the media to publicize the activities, programmes and developmental projects of the university. He said he was willing to partner with members of the Correspondents Chapel to ensure that the achievements and ongoing projects of FUTO receive adequate publicity.According to him, the media remains an important channel through which the university can communicate its activities to the public. He therefore appealed to members of the Correspondents Chapel to support his administration as it works towards fulfilling its mandate and advancing the university.
The Vice-Chancellor also spoke about his ongoing familiarisation visits within the FUTO community, explaining that as a new administration, he had been moving around the university environment to become acquainted with members of staff and understand their concerns and expectations.He assured the journalists that his administration would maintain an open-door policy and keep communication channels open with the Correspondents Chapel. He further expressed his readiness to work with members of the press across different media platforms.Professor Simplicity noted that there were several issues and projects left unattended by previous administrations and expressed his determination to address them while setting a new direction for the university.He also appealed to the journalists to support his administration in its efforts to improve and upgrade the institution. He said the media would play a significant role in helping the administration communicate its vision, programmes and achievements to both the university community and the wider public.Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of the Correspondents Chapel, Comrade Chinaza Ilechukwu of Radio Nigeria, congratulated the Vice-Chancellor on his appointment and expressed the chapel’s readiness to work with the new administration.
Comrade Ilechukwu emphasized that the media could help project the activities and achievements of FUTO to the wider world, noting that the Correspondents Chapel comprises journalists representing various national and local media organisations.He introduced the members of the chapel and their respective media organisations to the Vice-Chancellor, stressing the importance of maintaining a strong relationship between the university and the media.The Chairman appealed to the Vice-Chancellor to support students who had completed their academic programmes to ensure timely graduation, while also urging him to consider assisting prospective students seeking admission into FUTO.The Chairman further appointed one of the elders of the Correspondents Chapel, Mr. Nkwopara of Vanguard Newspaper, to speak on behalf of the chapel.In his remarks, Mr. Nkwopara reaffirmed the readiness of members of the Correspondents Chapel to work with the Vice-Chancellor and his administration. He called for the continued opening of the university’s communication channels to journalists so that they could effectively report the activities, programmes and achievements of the institution.He noted that a strong relationship between the university management and the media would enable the public to receive balanced information about developments at FUTO through both national and local media platforms.
The Vice-Chancellor also acknowledged the support of the media and congratulated Comrade Chinaza Ilechukwu and other members of the Correspondents Chapel for the visit.He further indicated his willingness to continue engaging with the journalists and expressed confidence that the partnership would contribute to the successful implementation of his administration’s vision for FUTO.The meeting ended with the presentation of some FUTO budgets and plans for the year to members of the Correspondents Chapel.The Vice-Chancellor, members of the university management and members of the Correspondents Chapel thereafter proceeded to the front of the Senate Building for a group photograph to mark the occasion.
