By Ruth Ani, Isiwu Nnaemek and Johnson Somadina

The newly elected ESUT Students Union Government (SUG) Executive were on Tuesday sworn into office marking the beginning of a long walk to effective leadership of prioritizing the welfare of the students and bridging the gap between the university management and the undergraduates

Among dignitaries in attendance during the inauguration of the new SUG leadership after their elections on June 26, were the Secretary to the Enugu State Government, Professor Chidiebere Onyia, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Enugu State, Dr. Kingsley Ude, as well as the Head of Public Affairs Department, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Enugu State, Paul Ikpor, were among the Resource team invited to  address the newly elected executives of the Student Union Government (SUG) of ESUT at their inauguration on Wednesday.

While speaking on the topic of the inauguration/leadership summit tagged “Ethical Leadership and Accountability in Student Union Government,” Prof. Onyia, told the SUG executives that their oath of offices were more than words but must reflect a covenant for commitment, integrity, transparency and a steadfast sense of responsibility to their fellow students and the university community at large.

He further said that the values of ethical leadership, accountability, honesty and transparency which leaders conscientiously cultivate make the followers to reap dividends of the leadership.

He urged the executives to match their campaign promises with actions so that those who entrusted them with their votes would not feel betrayed or disappointed.

“When you are an ethical leader and you make a pronouncement, you must back it with action. There must be relentless alignment of decisions with moral principles,” he said.

He also said that “ethical leadership demands courage to speak truth to power.” He equally urged the SUG executives to always interface with students, stating that feedback mechanism was  necessary for accountable and ethical leadership.

Equally, in his presentation, the Attorney General of the state, Dr. Ude, stated that judiciary must remain independent, accessible, efficient and timely.

Dr. Ude who spoke on the topic “Responsible Unionism and Service Delivery: The Missing Point and the Way Forward,”  stated that judiciary must also be fair, impartial, transparent and accountable.

Dr. Ude who was represented by Barr. Ukamaka Ikeji, enjoined the ESUT SUG to protect the rights of their fellow students, adding that responsible unionism required clarity of purpose and vision. He further described leadership as stewardship through services to the people.

In his presentation, the EFCC representative, Ikpor, who spoke on the prevalence of cybercrimes and its effects on victims and the economy, identified some cybercrimes such as identity theft, obtaining by false pretence , ransomware and advance fee fraud.

He enjoined the students to desist from get-rich-quick mentality, stating that it affects the economy negatively by discouraging foreign investment. He equally stated that culprits on apprehension  were liable to five-year imprisonment.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Vice Chancellor of ESUT, Prof. Aloysius-Michaels Okolie, who congratulated the elected SUG officials for their victory at the polls, stated that the university  had evolved new ways of approaching issues through  her continued rebranding efforts in the institution.

He informed the guests  that 100 and 200 level students of the university would be grouped together and assigned project topics which would be submitted in their final years for assessment and possible commercialization.

He regretted that most universities were suffering from certificate syndrome without  bothering  about teaching students hands-on skills which would make them to be self-reliant, adding that ESUT had built an innovation hub to impart students with relevant skills.

While urging the students to enroll for NELFund, he noted  that the Management of the university was  working assiduously to improve municipal services in the university especially in the areas of power and  water supplies.

Equally in her address, the Dean of Students’ Affairs, Prof. Mary Okwor, stated that the leadership training became necessary to give the SUG executives the solid foundation upon which they would run students’ administration.

 She enjoined the students to be exemplary in their leadership by imbibing the virtues of trust, accountability and transparency.

The Registrar of ESUT, Ambrose Ugwu swore-in the Chief Judge of ESUT SUG, Chukwuka Nnamani, who in turn administered oath of allegiance to other elected executives.

In her acceptance speech, the Acting President of the SUG, Chizaram Nwodo, expressed appreciation to the ESUT Management for providing level-playing field for all the candidates during the election, pledging to serve with integrity and to address the needs of the students.