By Amaechi Agbo

The Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, has appointed Barr. Victor Chibueze Chukwuani as the new chairman of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) Governing Council. The appointment was contained in a press release issued and signed by the Secretary to the Enugu State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, on Friday.

According to the statement, Barr. Chukwuani was appointed along with five others as members of the Governing Council. They are: Engr. James Ifeanyichukwu Ajibo, Dr. Eric Oluedo, Mrs. Gladys Ngozi Okoro, and Chukwu Chikaodiri Joy. Their appointments, Prof. Onyia said, are with immediate effect.

Barr. Chukwuani replaces the immediate past chairman of the Governing Council, Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa. Governor Peter Mbah previously inaugurated the six-man ESUT Governing Council in March 2024, pursuant to Section 6(1) of the ESUT Establishment Law, to prioritize institutional development and academic excellence. Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa formally tendered his resignation from the chairmanship role effective February 23, 2026.

Barr. Chukwuani’s Profile

Aged 63, Barr. Chukwuani hails from Ozalla Community in Nkanu West Local Government Area. He previously served as a National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) under former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Before his elevation to the electoral body, Barr. Chukwuani, a trained lawyer, served as the Registrar of Deeds and Titles in the Enugu State Ministry of Lands and Housing. His transition to national service came when he was nominated to represent the South East zone on the INEC board. Notably, he succeeded Professor Maurice Iwu, who had vacated the South East Commissioner seat following his appointment as the acting (and later substantive) Chairman of INEC.

Years after his active tenure at INEC, Barr. Chukwuani transitioned back into private legal practice and community leadership, occasionally intersecting with public sector developments and civil affairs within Enugu State. The reconstitution of the ESUT Governing Council comes six months after the former chairman, Chief Chinyeaka Ohaa, resigned.