By Amaechi Agbo

Students of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT have been advised to shun cultism, instead pursue academic excellence.

Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Aloysius-Michaels Okolie handed the warning on Thursday during the orientation programme for new students in the Faculty of Engineering held at the Professor Julius Onah Auditorium

Conveying the VC’s message, the Dean, Faculty of Engineering, Professor Thomspson Chime, who stood-in for the VC, warned the students on the dangers of involving in anti-social behaviour while in the university and urged them to be good ambassadors of their parents and communities.

“Today, you have gained admission into ESUT, your dream university to study your preferred courses in Faculty of Engineering. All of you went through challenges to be here and now that you are here, I want to advise you to stay away from bad friends. They will lead you astray. Don’t join cult, stay away from people that would influence you negatively. Stay focused on what you have come here to achieve, academic excellence. If you remain on the path of the university rules, you will not have issues with the management but once you decide to do otherwise, we will come after you

“I want you to be good ambassadors of your respective families and communities. Make them proud by pursuing academic excellence,” the VC admonished.

Delivering a lecture on the topic: “Understanding the Faculty and Building Academic Excellence”, the Associate Dean, Faculty of Engineering, Professor Mgbachi Cyprian advised the new students to take their academics seriously.

Professor Mgbachi who described an engineer and as a “solution provider” further explained the importance of engineering courses to humanity

“The university is like an ocean without a compass, you are bound to miss your location if not properly guided. That is the essence of this orientation and you are welcome to the faculty.

“Engineers are the people who make things happen in our society, they provide solutions to our problems, they are the reason we live today,” he said.

He further stressed that engineers should participate in politics to provide good leadership in the country. “Engineers don’t have time for politics. If we can polish our works with politics, we will have good leaders.”

Speaking on “Examination, Integrity and Responsible Student Conduct,” former Head of Department of Chemical Engineering, Professor Benson Udeh, cautioned the students against examination malpractice. While reeling out some of the examination offences in the school such as impersonation, cheating during examination, entering examination hall with mobile phone, among others, Professor Udeh warned “Do not go to examination hall late. Lateness to examination hall is the first symptom of malpractice. You are expected to be in your examination hall at least 30 minutes before the time. If you arrive to an examination hall 30minutes late, the university rule says you will not write the exam.

“And when you are caught in malpractice such as impersonation, it is immediate expulsion. If you are found with a phone inside examination hall, it attracts two years suspension. As a father and your teacher, I don’t want any of you to be either expelled or suspended. We want you all to graduate at the end of the stipulated time for your stay here,” he said.

In her goodwill message, the Dean of Student Affairs, Professor Ifeoma Okwo while commending the faculty for being the pacesetter in hosting the first orientation programme for new students, urged the fresh students to imbibe the virtue of probity to achieve academic excellence.