…Profs Iyi, Ogu, Ugwu elected deans Environmental Sciences, Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences

…Faculties of Law, Social Sciences, Management Sciences, Others Elected Unopposed

By Amaechi Agbo and Onyekachi Agu, Agbani

Professor Titus Owoh on Thursday emerged the new dean of Faculty of Education in ESUT, even as Prof Emenike Augusta lost her bid to retain her deanship position in Faculty of Environmental Sciences.

Prof Owoh saw of rival, Prof Chinedu Aguba as well as Prof Chinwe Chibuike to clinch the position in education.

In a hugely contested election held at the faculty auditorium with 90 voters, Prof Owoh of Department of Technology and Vocational Education, emerged winner with 43 votes. His closest rival, Prof Aguba got 41 votes while Prof Chibuike had 6 votes for his efforts.

At the Faculty of Environmental Sciences, the race was between incumbent dean, Prof Emenike Augusta and Prof Edmond Iyi.

Like what transpired in Nigeria’s 2015 generation election where an incumbent president, Goodluck Jonathan was defeated by Muhammadu Buhari, Prof Emenike lost the position to her rival, Prof Iyi.

Prof Iyi had a total of 24 votes to upstage his opponent, Prof Emenike who got 14 votes.

Election at the Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, saw the Director of Research, Prof Emeka Nze emerged winner.

Professor Nze’s emergency came after his rival, Prof Okoye stood down for him.

In the newly created Faculties of Biological Sciences and Physical Sciences, Professors E.O. Ogu and G.Z. Ugwu were elected pioneer deans, respectively.

In the Biological Sciences, Prof Ogu got 14 votes to see off competition from Prof H.O. Nwamba who had 4 votes. In the Physical Sciences, 25 votes polled by Prof G.Z. Ugwu were enough to secure the position for him against Prof Nnamebi who got 16 votes. In the build up to the election, Prof Ugwuoke stepped down for Prof Ugwu.

The deanship position at the Faculty of Engineering was hugely contested by two professors, Prof Thompson Chime and Prof Ebere Ameh. The results of the election showed that Prof Chime polled 45 votes to defeat Prof Ameh who had 33 votes.

Faculties of Law, Social Sciences and Humanities as well as Management Sciences had their deans elected unopposed.

Prof Ortuanya of Law had his seat preserved for him same as Prof Nicholas Attamah of Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities.
Prof Uche Ugwuanyi was unanimously elected, unopposed, as Dean, Faculty of Management Sciences.

Also elected as a sole candidate is Prof Umezurike Hughes Okafor of Faculty of Clinical Medicine as well as Dr Ozor Ignatius of Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences

Interestingly, the elections were unable to produce a female dean, this in contrast to at least three female deans that were elected during the 2022 deanship elections.

ESUT Monitor can authoritatively report that the elections of the new deans in 12 out of 13 Faculties in the university were peaceful and resulted generally accepted by all including those who lost their elections.

Speaking with ESUT Monitor on the conduct of the election at Faculty of Education, Prof Martins Anikwe who represented the Vice-Chancellor and superintended over the election said it was democracy in action.

Describing the Faculty of Education election as a tight race, the former Commissioner for Agriculture in Enugu State said the majority spoke which is the beauty of democracy.

“We have witnessed democracy here. The Dean Elect won with just two votes ahead of his closest opponent and that is the beauty of democracy. It was transparently conducted in an orderly manner and all the voters and candidates conducted themselves very well.

“To me, the only winner is the faculty. They should unite and move the faculty ahead. The time of election is over, it is now time to work. We are happy with the outcome of the election here, we will now go and write our report and submit to the management,” he said.