By Onyekachi Agu and Chiekezie Emmanuel,

Agbani – The Vice-Chancellor, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, Professor Aloysius-Michaels Okolie has frowned at students’ and lecturers’ absence from lectures classrooms and warned that the management will take stringent actions against such derelictions

The VC gave the warning on Tuesday while declaring open the two-day Postgraduate Annual International Conference held at the Prof Julius Onah Auditorium, at Agbani

Prof Okolie who accompanied the Keynote speaker of the conference and Vice-Chancellor Summit University, Kwara State, Professor Abiodun Musa Aibinu to the conference, said that the rule on 70% attendance by students must be stringently adhered to adding that lecturers who failed to carry out their responsibilities would also face consequences.

“The 2024/2025 academic session began yesterday, on Monday and the students are back. This academic session, we will not condole business as usual. We will deepen our monitoring and assessment of ourselves, including management and lecturers, to identify areas for improvement.

“No lecturer should be absent from his assigned duty likewise, students must attend lectures at all times. The 70% attendance bemchmark must be implemented at all times, students should be serious with their studies. Any student who didn’t meet the requirement should not be allowed to be in the exam hall.

“Similarly, any lecturer who refused to teach should be reported to the management. We are out this time to ensure that in spite of the small school fees the students pay, they should get value for it,” the VC said.

On the Conference, the Vice-Chancellor said that attendance to the conference by the PG student is mandatory adding that students who abstained from it will not be graduated.

He emphasised that the conference focusing on information and emerging technology, is vital for the university’s survival

“After this conference, anyone at the proposal presentation stage who is not in attendance will have to wait until next year’s graduation. We will not sign off until you participate in next year’s conference.

“Additionally, any postgraduate student who has overstayed will be required to leave, as approved by the board.

“We are training you as professionals, making you highly sought after.

“The issue of certification is crucial, indicating your performance as a student. Once certification is presented, I will sign off.

“This conference, focusing on information and emerging technology, is vital for our university’s survival. To ensure continuity, we plan to install solar power, ensuring operations despite power outages.

“In today’s rapidly changing world, we must respond to innovations. Embracing globalization and trends enables us to achieve great things, including virtual teaching,” he said.