‎By Ali Hope
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‎Professor Emeka Nze, Dean, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources Management, Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), has highlighted infrastructural development, innovation, partnerships and improved student and staff welfare as major achievements of his first tenure.

‎Professor Nze stated this during an interview with the ESUT Monitor in his office, adding that his achievements are the reasons he is seeking for a second tenure as Dean of the faculty.

‎According to Professor Nze, the Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources Management faced several challenges before his assumption of office in August 2024, including poor drainage system, inadequate water supply, inactive teaching and research farms, limited institutional partnerships, poor sanitation and issues relating to student discipline.

‎He said his administration began addressing the challenges upon assumption of office, with the support of the university management led by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Aloysius-Michaels Okolie.
‎Professor Nze identified the construction of drainage system within the faculty as one of the major infrastructural developments recorded during his tenure.

He explained that the faculty was previously affected by flooding whenever it rained, making movement difficult for students and staff.
‎He also cited the provision and reticulation of water within the faculty as another development, adding that the intervention was made possible through the support of the university management.

‎On agricultural development, Professor Nze said the faculty’s teaching and research farm and commercial farm, which he described as largely inactive before his tenure, had been revitalised.
‎He disclosed that the farms currently support activities including fish farming, maggot farming, livestock production and the cultivation of various agricultural seedlings. He also announced plans for the production of bread, which he said would be known as “ESUT Bread.”

‎Professor Nze who will deliver the 59th Inaugural Lecture of the ESUT on Thursday, August 13, further stated that the commercial farm now supplies meat for functions within the university, describing the development as one of the achievements of his administration.
‎Speaking on partnerships, Professor Nze highlighted collaborations between the university and several institutions within and outside Nigeria.

‎He referred to an agreement involving ESUT, the African Diaspora Development Consortium (ADDC), based in California, United States, and the Enugu State Government concerning an agricultural investment project in Ikefi. He said the Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources Management would provide technical expertise for the project.
‎He also disclosed that the university had entered into an agreement with Sam Houston State University in Texas, United States, concerning artificial insemination, stressing that the initiative would strengthen agricultural capacity in the state and university.

‎He further mentioned capacity-building engagements with the Federal Cooperative College, Oji, as part of efforts to strengthen the knowledge and skills of staff and students in aquaculture and related agricultural activities.

‎Professor Nze also highlighted the distribution of palm seedlings to faculties within the university. He said the Enugu State Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Industrialisation provided 1,000 palm seedlings to the university, while the Rotary Club of Nigeria, Enugu District, donated an additional 300 seedlings to the Faculty of Agriculture.

‎On student discipline and welfare, he said his administration had introduced measures aimed at improving students’ dressing, sanitation and general conduct.
‎He added that staff welfare and capacity building had also received attention during his tenure, stressing that students remained a major priority of his administration.

‎However, Professor Nze acknowledged that his first tenure was not without challenges. ‎He identified resistance to new policies, difficulties with student course registration, delayed release of results, non-payment or late payment of relevant fees, poor sanitation and adapting to new administrative procedures as some of the challenges encountered.

‎According to him, “sensitisation, motivation and collaboration with staff and students helped his administration to address some of the challenges.
‎Professor Nze also disclosed that the faculty had moved away from cash payments, directing students to make payments through designated bank accounts.”

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‎Explaining his decision to seek a second tenure, Professor Nze said his primary objective was to consolidate the achievements of his first term and address outstanding challenges.

‎He said his administration still had work to do in repositioning the faculty and ensuring that the partnerships and programmes established during his first tenure were sustained.

‎Professor Nze also expressed concern that a change in leadership could affect the continuity of some of the relationships established with local, national and international institutions.
‎On his opponent in the election, Professor Joseph Okoye, Professor Nze said he was not afraid of him, describing him as a friend and colleague.

‎He said the ideas of both candidates could contribute to the development of the faculty, adding that Professor Okoye was currently serving as a Head of Department and on committees under his administration.

The 2026 Deanship elections in ESUT will hold on Monday, August 10, by 12noon across the 14 faculties.