By Amaechi Agbo

Students of Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT have been urged to buckle up and face challenges ahead of them in the university.

The Head, Department of Mechatronics Engineering, Dr Chineze Okeke handed the advice to both new and old students of the department during a combined orientation programme held at the Faculty of Engineering Laboratories Building on Tuesday.

While congratulating the students on gaining admission into the university to study Mechatronics Engineering, a course she said was not meant for the lazy ones, Dr Okeke sounded a note of warning to the students that the profession they have chosen to study is a demanding one.

“On behalf of the entire department, I warmly congratulate you on securing admission into this prestigious programme. You are not here by accident, you earned your place.

“Mechatronics Engineering is not just a course of study, it is a discipline that integrates mechanical engineering, electronics, computer engineering, control systems, and intelligent systems into one powerful field. It is the backbone of modern automation, robotics, smart manufacturing, and intelligent technologies shaping today’s world.

“When you see industrial robots in factories, automated production lines, smart vehicles, drones, or even advanced medical devices — that is Mechatronics at work. But let me say this clearly: Mechatronics is demanding. It requires discipline, curiosity, consistency, and resilience. You will study mathematics, physics, learn programming, design systems; You will fail. And you will rise again.

“This department is committed to equipping you not just with theoretical knowledge, but with practical competence. We will challenge you. We will stretch you. We will expect excellence from you” she said.

Delivering a lecture on the topic: Academics Regulations, Examinations Ethics and Professional Conduct”, the Director, TETFUN ESUT, Associate Professor Engr Onyekachi Egwuatu advised the students to abide by the university rules to avoid either being suspended or expelled.

“The university has rules which guide the conduct of everyone here. Because there are rules, there is sanity in the university. Some of the rules you must avoid at all cost include, smoking in classrooms, joining cult groups, indulging in examination malpractice, reckless driving within the university premises, bullying and fighting, among others. These rules have consequences ranging from suspension to expulsion and I urge you to abide by them,” he advised.

On his part, the pioneer Head of the Department and Director, ESUT Municipal Services, Engr. Dr Thomas Okechukwu Onah, took the students through the overview of the department, taking them down to when the department was established in 2023 with just 8 pioneer students, courses offered as well as the importance of the field to humanity.  

Overview

The creation of the Mechatronics Engineering programme in Faculty of Engineering at Enugu State University of Science and Technology was approved by ESUT University Senate in 2023 under the auspicious administration of the Vice-Chancellor Prof. Aloysius-Michaels Okolie. The curriculum was prepared by Engr. Dr. Thomas Onah (Assocaite Professor), the then Head, Department of Mechanical and Production Engineering under the Deanship of Prof Gordian Onyebuchukwu Mbah.

The programme aims to produce graduates with sufficient academic background and adequate practical experience to solve engineering problems. The achievement process involves among other things, lectures, tutorials, laboratories, Engineering/Technology workshop practices, design works and industrial attachments.At present, the Department is at her 300 level with 8 Students in year three, over one hundred and fifty students in year two and same in year one.

Staff of the department comprises: Engr Dr. Chineze Glory Okeke (Senior Lecturer) HOD, Engr. Dr Thomas Onah (Associate Professor founder, coordinator and pioneer HOD of the Department), Engr Dr. Onyekachi Egwuagu, co-founder  (Associate Professor),  Engr Dr. Iyidobi Chijindu (Associate Professor),  Engr Dr. Chikezie Aka (Lecturer 11), Engr. Dimeze Innocent (Lecturer 11), Chukwuemeka Odo (Technologist II), Bar. Nwaneka Mba (Chief Typist and Secretary) and (Rosline Ugwu (Admin Assistance).