By Amaechi Agbo

After succefully overseeing the affairs of the Department of Banking and Finance in ESUT, Dr Gabriel Anidiobu on Thursday handeded over the headship of the department to his successor, Dr. Bertram Agu

In a handover ceremonyheald in the HOD office, Dr Anidiobu congratulated his successor his his deserved appointement and promised to remain to support him in his new position.

Dr Anidiobu who served the department for over four years dating back to 2020 when his first appointment stretched for two years, appreciated the staff and students as well as the university management under Prof Aloysius-Michaels Okolie  and the dean of faculty of Management Sciences for support

“Today marks a great day in our department. This change of baton is sympolic because it relievs me of the headship of our great department as Dr Agu takesover.

“The past few years gave reasons to be celebrating as we collectively yearned and worked harmonisouly for the department. It is therefore important to extend my gratituted to the staff and students of the department for their understanding and support.

“Moreso to the university management under the able leadership of the Vice-Chanmcellor, Prof Aloysius-Michaels Okolie and our dynamic dean, Professor Uche Ugwuanyi for their support. During my tenure, we created a peaceful atmosphere to enable the department progress,” he said.

The former HOD enumerated some of the achievements recorded under his stewardship to include “Establishing an effective Departmental Welfare Scheme, successfully facilitated the transition from Benchmark Minimum Academic Standard (BMASS) to the Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS) curriculum standards

“Improvement on Undergraduate/Postgraduate Enrolment with the Postgraduate student numbers increasing from near zero to: PhD – 3; M.Sc. – 11, and PGD – 3; while undergraduate enrolment increased from 40 students in 100 Level (2023/2024) to 100 students in 100 Level (2024/2025).

“We also have ongoing initiatives such as B.Sc./ACB Linkage as efforts are underway to establish a collaborative pathway between our B.Sc. programme and the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CBN).

“It is important to maintain peaceful coexistence and foster strong working relationships among colleagues. Adherence to official rules should remain a guiding principle. The use of committees for executing key departmental responsibilities should be sustained. Harmonious engagement with students should continue to be prioritized. 

“In the light of the above, I sincerely wish you continued success and greater achievements for our esteemed Department and ESUT,” he said.

In his speech after accepting the handover note, the HOD, Dr Agu commended his predecessor for his strides and called on him to always be available to render help to the department when called upon.

He called on the staff and students to sustain their support to the department leadership in order to excel and thanked the VC for finding him worthy to head the department

“A new responsibility comes with new situations. However, collectively, we shall overcome. I want to first and foremost thank the outgoing Head for his efforts and sacrifices in championing the affairs of our department. You exhibited character and leadership to reposition the department. We will continue from where you left but please you only left the seat, do not turn your back on us. We will always call on you for support.

“To the staff and the students, I encourage you to sustain the support to enable us move higher. To the Vice-Chancellor and his management team, let me express my profound gratitude to them for finding me worthy to head the department. This trust reposed on me will never be taking for granted. We will work collectively as a family with the faculty to achieve our objectives,” he said.  

Dr Gabriel Anidiobu’s first tenure as the Head, Department of Banking and Finance, ESUT, commenced 2020 through 2022. His second and third tenure lasted from July 2023 to 4^th September, 2025