24/04/2026
FUTO Welcomes Professor Ikechukwu Dozie as its 9th Substantive Vice-Chancellor
Professor Ikechukwu Nosike Simplicius Dozie is a distinguished academician, public health scientist, and seasoned administrator who has recently emerged as the 9th substantive Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO). Born on*March 3, 1966, in Umuokazi Amuzi, Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria, Dozie has dedicated over 33 years to university teaching and administration. His name "Simplicius" is often reflected in his reputation as a noble and simple man, despite his extensive hard-earned accomplishments and lofty academic promotions.
Academic Foundation and Roots
Professor Dozie’s educational journey began at Agbani Road Primary School in Enugu, where he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate. He then attended Mbaise Secondary School, Aboh-Mbaise, where he achieved the West Africa School Certificate with a Division One in 1980. He proceeded to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, earning a B.Sc. combined honors in Microbiology and Biochemistry, followed by an M.Sc. in Medical Microbiology. He later attained a PhD in Public Health Parasitology from the University of Jos. To bolster his administrative skills, he attended the Galilee International Management Institute (GIMI) in Israel for advanced seminars in the management of higher education institutions in 2010 and 2014.
Professional Career and Research Impact
Prof. Dozie’s teaching career commenced in 1992 as an Assistant Lecturer at Imo State University (IMSU), Owerri. Through consistent research and dedication, he rose to the rank of Professor in 2005. Between 2007 and 2010, he served as a Visiting Professor at FUTO while on leave of absence from IMSU, eventually transferring his services to FUTO permanently in 2011.
His academic influence is global; he has served as a consultant to the World Health Organization (WHO) for the African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control. His research has focused extensively on tropical diseases, including onchocerciasis (river blindness), lymphatic filariasis, malaria, and HIV/AIDS. Notably, he discovered a thermostable, alkaline-active keratinolytic proteinase from Chrysosporium keratinophilum, a finding published in the World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology in 1994.
Leadership and Transformational Achievements
Before reaching the pinnacle of leadership at FUTO, Professor Dozie held several critical administrative roles:
1. Dean of the School of Health Technology at FUTO (2012–2017), where he achieved full accreditation for Public Health and Optometry programs and produced the school's pioneer Doctor of Optometry and PhD graduates.
2. Director of Linkages and Advancement at FUTO.
3. Vice-Chancellor of Kingsley Ozumba (K.O.) Mbadiwe University (KOMU): Appointed by Governor Hope Uzodimma in May 2021, he is credited with transforming the institution. His milestones at KOMU include securing full accreditation for 17 programs, establishing a World-class ICT Academy in partnership with Huawei, and introducing new professional programs such as Medicine & Surgery, Law, and Nursing Science.
Emergence as 9th Vice-Chancellor of FUTO
Professor Dozie’s appointment as the 9th substantive Vice-Chancellor of FUTO in April 2026 marks a historic "defining chapter" for the institution. His emergence was met with significant excitement, described by colleagues and mentees as a strategic move that places a "master of the game" at the helm. Stakeholders anticipate that his tenure will usher in a transformative phase characterized by academic excellence, infrastructural development, and strengthened research output, positioning FUTO as a leading hub for technological advancement in Nigeria. He succeeds the previous leadership with a mandate to reinforce stability and drive impactful reforms across the university system.
Honors and Personal Life
Professor Dozie is a Fellow of several prestigious societies, including the Nigerian Society for Microbiology (FNSM) and the Parasitology and Public Health Society of Nigeria (FPPSN). He is also a Jerusalem Pilgrim (JP) and serves as the Chairman of the Chaplaincy Pastoral Council of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Chaplaincy at FUTO. He is married to Dr. Chinomso Patricia Dozie, and they have four children.
FUTO Campus Gist
Igwe Ugochukwu.
