About Us

At inception in 1980, the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) was the first of the six universities of technology set up by the Federal Government of Nigeria to fast-track the technological development of Nigeria. Then it had only the School of Science; but today, it has seven schools (School of Science, School of Engineering and Engineering Technology, School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology, School Management Technology, School of Health Technology, School of Environmental Technology and School of Post Graduate Studies) and the Directorate of General Studies. It also has some five specialized research centres (Centre for Erosion Studies, Centre for Industrial Studies, Centre for Agricultural Research and Training, Centre for Horticultural Research, Centre for Fisheries Development, Centre for Information and Communication Technology) amongst others. The rapid growth of programmes in the University has given FUTO Consult limited a broader canvass for marrying research and technology development with the provision of vital services to the wider society through consultancy and contract services, tapping from the plethora of scientists and technologists at its beck and call in the University.

FUTO Consult Ltd. had its humble beginnings in 1985 when the five year old university set up the FUTO Board of Consultancy Services in response to the Federal Government initiative allowing commercialized consultancy services in tertiary institutions. It metamorphosed into a limited liability company in August 1992, taking the name it bears to this day. That transformation was inspired by the need to “ meet, to some extent, the challenges of lack of adequate funding, to render expert and professional services more effectively to the society within the context of overall national economic and physical development, and to advance the frontiers of knowledge and experience for both staff and students” (Obah, 1992). These original goals of FCL as articulated by its first Board Chairman, Prof. C.O.G Obah, have been dramatically concretized under the leadership of Prof. C.O.E. Onwuliri, FAS, the fifth substantive Vice Chancellor of FUTO and fifth Chairman of the Board of FCL.

In terms of earning, FCL has improved dramatically – earning in two years more than it earned in all the previous years of existence combined. Now, through its earned income, it is erecting its own building with state of the art facilities for consultancy work. It is also helping staff and students earn additional income. In terms of advancing the frontiers of knowledge and experience for both staff and students, the FCL has become a veritable combustion chamber, putting them on the driving seat of several exciting and seminal work such as developing a Domestic Gas Aggregation Model for Nigeria or a Vehicle Inspection and Certification model. The inspired role of students in these projects gives cause for hope in the technological transformation of Nigeria given adequate funding of universities and patronage of university consultancy services like FCL.

Clearly, the Gown to Town mantra has found an admirable expression at FUTO Consult Limited under the current board and management and all I am to do now is to invite one and all to try out this pudding for themselves and decide how it tastes!