OWERRI – Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has described the state as the brain-box of the country, having produced enormous technological and managerial strength in the nation’s economy.

The governor stated this during the 24th convocation of Federal University of Technology, Owerri, FUTO.

He, however, said that in recent years, some of the young ones had opted out of school in pursuit of peripheral businesses, prompting his administration to adopt free education to give opportunities to every child to be educated.

The governor described the honorary awardees of the university as worthy Nigerians who have judiciously utilized their wealth and positions to touch lives and improve the welfare of many Nigerians.

Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Chigozie Asiabaka, thanked the governor for his numerous supports and expressed confidence that the school would further benefit from the infrastructural development efforts of the Rescue Mission Agenda of the state government.

He disclosed that on assumption of office as vice chancellor of the university, he reviewed the programmes of the school and instituted a new management team with a vision and mission to promote excellence.

Prof Asiabaka disclosed that 2,000 grandaunts bagged first degree, while 121 obtained post-graduate degrees.

The awardees are Obong Goodswill Akpabio, governor of Akwa Ibom State; Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwanbo of Gombe State; Asiwaju Mike Oghiadomhe, Chief of Staff to the President; Oba Otudeku and Chief Ifeanyi Uba, CEO Capital Oil and Gas Limited