Nnenna Nnannaya Oti (Nigeria) is a distinguished academic and higher education leader who made history as the first female substantive Vice‑Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), assuming office on 19 June 2021 after a competitive selection process. Born on 15 November 1958 in Afikpo North, Ebonyi State, she holds a First Class degree in Soil Science and advanced degrees, including a postgraduate diploma in Irrigation Engineering (with distinction) from Catholic University, Leuven, and a PhD in Soil and Environmental Conservation from FUTO. A professor with over three decades of experience, Oti has led key academic and administrative units at FUTO, including multiple terms as Head of Department, Dean of the Postgraduate School, and chair of the Gender Policy Unit, and has authored numerous peer‑reviewed publications and delivered invited lectures on gender issues, youth empowerment, and national development. Her reputation for principled leadership was further underscored when she served as the Independent National Electoral Commission Returning Officer in the 2023 Abia State governorship election, where she upheld the integrity of the electoral outcome despite intense pressure. Married with three children, Professor Oti’s career reflects a sustained commitment to academic excellence, institutional advancement, and ethical stewardship in Nigerian higher education.