By Onyekachukwu Agu

Ebeano City – The Enugu State House of Assembly Committee on Education on Monday, June 29, 2026, paid a One-Day oversight visit to the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Agbani, where the Vice Chancellor, Professor Aloysius-Michaels Okolie, briefed the delegation on the university’s achievements, ongoing projects, upcoming programmes, and the challenges threatening its continued growth.

The Committee was led by. Hon. Osita Eze, memener representing Oji River constituency at the Enugu State House of Assembly.

Addressing the lawmakers, Prof. Okolie disclosed that following a re-accreditation exercise conducted by the National Universities Commission (NUC) in October/November 2025, ESUT recorded Full Accreditation in 19 out of 20 programmes reviewed.

“Only Surveying and Geo-Informatics received interim accreditation, and management has since commenced efforts to address all identified deficiencies,” the VC said

On the medical front, Prof Okolie informed the lawmakers that the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) earlier in the year approved a significant increase in quota for the College of Medicine from 120 to 350 following a thorough revalidation exercise.

One of the landmark developments presented to the Committee was the approval for the transfer of ownership of the NCC Centre to ESUT, paving the way for the establishment of an Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Studies centre.

This was further strengthened by Tetfund’s approval for ESUT to establish six Centres of Excellence in Robotics, Coding, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Cyber Security across the six geo-political zones, making ESUT the only institution in the South East to receive such approval.

He also disclosed plans to invite the NUC for resource verification of five new programmes, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Software Engineering, Cyber Security, and Intelligence and Security Studies with the programmes set to commence in the 2026/2027 academic session.

The Vice Chancellor presented a list of ongoing infrastructural projects nearing completion. These include the ESUT Press, financed by Tetfund, expected to be completed in July, the Faculty of Social Sciences Building Complex, also Tetfund sponsored, due for completion in August; and the renovation of the Students Male Hostel.

“A 600-seating capacity Multi-Purpose Auditorium, donated by Senator Engr. David Umahi, is also expected to be commissioned alongside the development and expansion of the ESUT Research Farm through a private partnership with Greens Etcetera Limited.

” On January 20, 2026, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the fencing of ESUT, as approved by the Governor, with completion expected within eight months.

“A foundation stone for a Federal Government/Tetfund students’ hostel with 1,600 bed spaces was also laid on Wednesday, March 25, 2026,” he reeled

The Vice Chancellor outlined a number of forthcoming institutional activities, including staff recruitment for new programmes, negotiations with labour unions over wages and conditions of service, the forthcoming Students’ Union Government (SUG) elections, and the 2025/2026 Second Semester Examinations scheduled to begin July 20, 2026.

Admission for the 2026/2027 academic session will begin in earnest, while the 2026 Convocation Ceremony is scheduled to hold on November 21, 2026.

Despite the progress recorded, the Vice Chancellor did not shy away from the difficulties the institution continues to face. He listed funding, insecurity, stating the fact that ESUT is open as a result of not been fenced and insufficient staff offices, poor lighting conditions across campus, and poor staff remuneration as the major challenges confronting ESUT management.

The oversight visit by the Enugu State House of Assembly Committee on Education showed the legislature’s continued interest in the tertiary education in Enugu State.