Since 25 February through 11 March, 2023, the people of Abia State fave continued to celebrate the elections in their state. They were all delighted by, not only the result of the elections, they were more elated by its seamless procedure. And who made that possible? No other one than Professor Nnenna Oti an indefatigable INEC top officer in Abia State.

Professor Nnenna Nnannaya Oti hails from Afikpo, Ebonyi State of Nigeria. A dignified and accomplished scholar, Nnenna is the current Vice Chancellor of Federal University (FUTO), Owerri, Imo State of Nigeria. She is a Professor of Soil Science and Environmental Conservation.

She transferred her services from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka to FUTO 30 years ago. Her service in FUTO includes 3 cycles as the Head of Department of Soil Science and Technology, 4 years as Dean of Post Graduate School and Chairman, Committee of Deans. Her duties have also included membership of University Senate, Joint Council/Senate committees, faculty and departmental boards and chairmanship of several committees.

In the recently concluded governorship elections in Abia state and as INEC returning officer, she said: “The pastor and the mother in me will not permit me to do anything that will adversely affect the future of our children”. This was her statement, even at the point uncertainty loomed in the hearts of the people of Abia state and well-wishers while awaiting the results of the election.

“I shall stand squarely and unapologetically on these principles. The people’s votes and mandate shall stand.” She stated firmly.

This heroic act is being celebrated till date, and accolades for her decision to stand firmly on the grounds of justice and fairness despite the pressing pressure will not be forgotten in a hurry by all Abians and friends of Abia state.

It is indeed a noble cause, more importantly as this happened in the international women’s month when women are celebrated worldwide.  Nature timed it perfectly, indeed.

A Fellow of the Soil Science Society of Nigeria, Prof. Nnenna Oti is a Chartered Soil Scientist, member of the Agricultural Society of Nigeria, member of the Soil Science Society of America, member of the Crop Science Society of America and member of the Agronomy Society of America and a host of others.

With over 70 peer-reviewed national and international publications, Nnenna has also delivered over 100 invited papers at local, national and international platforms on gender issues, youth empowerment, national development, good governance and leadership.

She was a visiting scholar at The Ohio State University, USA, 1996-1997, a visiting Professor at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Abia State (2013-2015) and an adjunct Professor, Imo State University from 2009-2020.

As a distinguished delegate to the 2014 national conference, Oti has helped to develop the blueprint of a greater Nigeria.

She made a first-class honours degree in Soil Science and has an M Sc. degree in Soil Microbiology/Biochemistry from the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) before proceeding to the Katholieke Universitiet Leuven, Belgium, where she bagged a Post Graduate Diploma with Distinction in Irrigation Engineering. In 2002, Nnenna broke an unusual record when she won the NUC – Best PhD in Nigeria Award.

Nnenna is the 1st female Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology Owerri. She defeated Ikechukwu Doji on 13 April 2021 and assumed office as the 8th Vice-Chancellor of the institution on 19 June 2021. Nnenna Oti was born on 15 November 1958 in Afikpo North, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. She is 65 years old as of 2023. Her zodiac sign is Scorpio. She follows Christianity. She is well educated. Nnenna Oti earned B.Agriculture, first-class, graduating in Soil Science from the University of Nigeria. She then obtained a Master’s degree in social sciences, focusing on soil biology and biochemistry, from the same University of Nigeria.

She first attended the Catholic University of Leuven, where she earned a Postgraduate Irrigation Engineering Diploma, receiving a distinction. Oti holds a doctorate in soil and environmental protection from the Federal University of Technology Owerri.

Nnenna is married to Nnannaya Oti. Together they have three children.  Based on the information available on the internet Nnenna Oti’s net worth is approximately $1-5 million USD. Her nationality is Nigerian and her ethnicity is black.