By Amaechi Agbo

Students of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT Joint Universities Preliminary Examinations Board (JUPEB) have been admonished to take their programme seriously as it is a pathway to securing their admission into the university.

The Director, ESUT JUPEB, Professor Obiagali Okafor handed the admonition during the orientation programme for the 2025/2026 year in Enugu on Tuesday

Addressing the students during orientation, the Director congratulated them for their admission into the JUPEB programme and urged them to make best use of the opportunity. She diffused the unfounded rumour that the JUPEB Programme is scam and urged the students to disregard the fake report and assured them that students who do well in their courses will get direct entry admission into course of their choices in ESUT.

“Today marks the beginning of an important stage in your academic journey and I officially welcome you to this great institution. JUPEB Programme is a one year intensive pre-degree programme designed to prepare you for direct entry admission into the universities. Beyond academic, it is a platform for character formation, discipline and moral probity. You have been given a valuable opportunity and I urge you to make best use of it.

“Let me use this medium to reiterate that ESUT JUPEB is not a scam. And I want you to make your enquiries very well. Once you do well in your respective courses, you will gain direct entry into year two in ESUT in any course of your choice. Ignore those who do not meant well for you and focus on your studies. I encourage you to take your studies seriously, make good use of available resources and build healthy relationship with your lecturers and mates. JUPEB Management is committed to guiding and supporting you throughout this programme,” she said.

The orientation featured several high-profile ESUT officials, including Prof. Sunny Udeze (former Dean of Postgraduate Studies), Assoc. Prof. Chidiebere Ezinwa (HOD, Mass Communication), Prof. Chris Ogar (Deputy Director, Entrepreneurship Development Centre), Dr Maxwell Menkiti Ngene of the Department of Mass Communication as well as the Director of Admissions, Prof. Mike Anyanwuokoro, among others.

Speakers emphasized that successful completion of the JUPEB programme guarantees candidates Direct Entry (DE) admission into the 200-level for their chosen courses, including competitive fields like Law and Medicine, at ESUT or other participating Nigerian universities.

Delivering a lecture on the topic, “Navigating Social Media, Avoiding Cultism, Maintaining Standards, and Achieving Academic Excellence” a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication, ESUT, Dr. Maxwell Menkiti Ngene, counselled the students on how to make effective use of the social media to achieve their academic goals.

“The Joint Universities Preliminary Examinations Board (JUPEB) programme represents a unique opportunity, it is a bridge to your university education and a strong foundation for your future success. We live in a technologically driven world today. Some call it the digital age, a time where social media is as common as the air we breathe. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and WhatsApp have become not just daily companions but integral to how we communicate, learn, and entertain ourselves.

“Social media can be an excellent educational resource. You can join academic groups, follow educational content creators, access free tutorials, and even connect with scholars worldwide. During your JUPEB programme, you will find study groups on WhatsApp and Telegram that can support your learning. However, Social media can become a serious distraction and even a threat to your academic performance and mental health,” he warned.

On his part, a former Dean, School of Postgraduate Studies, ESUT, Professor Sunny Udeze advised the students to remain focused and described the JUPEB Programme as the starting point for them to achieve not just their academic goals but to also be trained as leaders.

“You are not just here to acquire education, you are here to be groomed to become future leaders. Nigeria is sinking and when leaders like you are nurtured, her future is guaranteed,” he said.

Speaking on the admission processes and how JUPEB student could gain admission into courses of their choices in ESUT, the ESUT Director of Admissions, Professor Mike Ayanwuokoro disclosed that JUPEB students are offered admission into the 200-level of their choice of courses adding that such offers are always on merit.

He urged the students to face their academic activities with all seriousness adding that the university can only offer admission to those with good grades. He described JUPED as a remedial programme which offers students that could not gain admission to the university through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB the opportunity to do so.

“I want to first and foremost congratulate you for your admission into ESUT JUPEB. But let mean warn you that you are not yet an undergraduate until you are offered admission by ESUT. The admission process from here is very simple, the university management will always considered those on merit before any other thing.

“Let me also reemphasis that those who planned JUPEB Programme made it in such a way that you will gain admission via Direct Entry and that means you will automatically start fron Year two in your chosen courses,” he said.

Two former students of the programme, Eze Mmesoma Favour who scored 16 points (highest grade) as well as Iyke-Okafor Nkiruka Rita who scored 14 points during the 2024/2025 session and currently in their 200-level studying Medicine and Surgery at ESUT College of Medicine, Enugu, delivered separate speeches during the orientation.

The encouraged the students to take their studies seriously and avoid keeping bad friends who could corrupt them.

Eze Favour who emerged that best students during her time, warned them against being involved in examination malpractice.