…Staff, Students Pour Encomium, Name Welfare, Security among Challenges

By Amaechi Agbo

Dr Peter Ndubiuisi Mbah, the Executive Governor of Enugu State has been hailed for his support to the ESUT College of Medicine, ESUCOM.

Provost of the College, Professor Uchenna Ekwochi expressed the appreciation in Enugu on Tuesday during the second edition of the ESUT College of Medicine staff/students Town-hall meeting.

Professor Ekwochi who described Governor Mbah as a “listening leader” said the Governor’s support to the College has been massive, also extended his cup of gratitude to the College board, ESUT Governing Council and management of the university. He added that the town-hall meeting, which is a brain-child of his administration, is geared towards having interaction with the staff and students to understand their challenges and also give assessment of the Colleges trajectory in recent times.

“Today, we are having our second edition of town-hall meeting. The first edition was held early this year. However, we are holding the second edition at the twilight of the year to help the board get unfiltered information from our staff and students to enable the management factored them into next year’s programmes.

“I’m most grateful to God Almighty for the grace to lead and to His Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah for his supports and provisions. I thank the Chairman of College board and the University Council, Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa for his supports and guidance. My wonderful Vice Chancellor and University  Management for all the supports.

“The members of College management, Professors and senior academics, staff and students of ESUCOM, you have been so amazing and supportive to this administration and I am glad to present a summary of our activities in the College over the past 21 months of leadership”, he said.

Professor Ekwochi listed his major achievements to include: “Provision of conducive learning environment through renovation of lecture halls, installation of CCTV cameras; effective and seamless academic calendar, staff and students welfare, promotion of staff which include four teaching staff promoted to the rank of Professors while 13 were promoted to the rank of Associate Professors

Others are regular graduation of Medical students and students of other programmes in the College, 2019 intake of Medical students graduated November 2025 exactly 6 years of training, regular induction of graduands into their various professional associations – 180 doctors graduated and inducted by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, Over 300 Medical laboratory Scientists graduated and inducted by the Medical Laboratory Council of Nigeria and 70 nurses graduated and inducted by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria. 

Introduction of seven new academic programmes in the college – Radiography, Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Biomedical Engineering, Public Health, Optometry, Physiotherapy and Ph.D in Clinical Neurosciences      

Professor Ekwochi led ESUCOM administration has also disciplined erring staff and student who were found wanting. Three staff were suspended for exploiting students financially, 26 students suspended for examination offences and 3 students expelled for examination infractions, thus stamping the College’s avowed disposition on zero tolerance to misconduct and indiscipline.

Participants at the meeting including staff and students eulogized the College Board under Professor Ekwochi for its proactive measures in tackling challenges facing the College. They however, enumerated challenges they are facing to include low or lack of internet connectivity which hampers research and effective teaching, security concerns, poor or ineffective power supply, need for exchange programmes with forigne university partners, more solar street lights as well as space challenge as the current infrastructure is in short supply compared to the number of students, among others.#

In his speech, the immediate past Provost of the College, Professor Frank Ezugwu, while commending his successor for a job well done, called on the staff and student to support his administration in its quest to reposition the college. And urged the staff and studuents to be partners in progress in order to help the College become one of the best in the world.

In his closing remarks, the Provost thanked the staff and students for their active participation stressing that all their concerns would be looked into promptly. He further called on philanthropists to partner with the College in undertaking some projects such as expansion of the new Anatomy building to ease space congestion, renovation of College Auditorium as well as installation of more solar energy light to enhance security.