…New President, Com Nwobodo Pledges Partnership, Student’s Welfare

By Amaechi Agbo

The Vice-Chancellor of Enugu State University of Science and Technology, (ESUT) Prof Aloysius-Michaels Okolie has urged the newly elected leadership of the Students Union Government (SUG) in the university to partner with the management in providing conducive environment for the students on campus stressing that students unionism is collaborative and not confrontational.

Prof Okolie gave the charge in Enugu on Thursday during the swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected Executive Council of the SUG at the university’s main campus in Ebeano City.

He urged the executives to discharge their duties bearing in mind that the university exists primarily because the students are there and asked them to work for collaboration and partnership with the university management instead of being confrontational

Professor Okolie, who attended the event alongside other principal officers, members of the Governing Council, and key functionaries of the University, described the SUG election as transparent, free, and credible. He said the conduct of the exercise should serve as a model for elections at the federal, state, and local government levels, noting that it demonstrated how credible electoral processes could strengthen democratic governance.

“Today is a day we are saying congratulations for accepting to partner with the management to bring new things into our university. We shall work together to achieve that things you deserve. Management is committed to ensuring that we support you to ensure that we succeed.

“Unionism is not about the number of protests you organized neither is it about being confrontational, students unionism is about collaboration and partnership with the management to create a conducive environment for you to succeed. The management is ready to partner with you, we want you to excel not just as leaders but as students of this great institution,” the VC said.

The Vice-Chancellor also reaffirmed the University’s zero-tolerance stance on cultism and fraud, stressing that the rigorous screening process for SUG candidates was designed to identify and disqualify individuals involved in such activities. He warned that any student found engaging in criminal acts would face prosecution, emphasizing that the Students’ Union would only be led by individuals of proven character who would positively represent the institution.

He further announced that the University would soon establish a Faculty of Computing, which would bring the number of faculties in the university to fifteen. The new faculty according to him, would accommodate the five newly approved academic programmes by the National Universities Commission (NUC): B.Sc. Intelligence and Security Studies, B.Sc. Cyber Security, B.Sc. Data Science, B.Sc. Software Engineering, and B.Sc. Artificial Intelligence.

In her remarks, the Dean of Student Affairs, Professor Ifeoma Okwo, congratulated the newly inaugurated executives and reminded them that leadership is founded on integrity, accountability, sacrifice, and service. She encouraged them to promote responsible student unionism and work towards sustaining peace and progress within the University community.

“I congratulate you on your well-deserved victory. Leadership demands integrity, accountability, sacrifice, humility, and service. By your election to various positions, you have been entrusted with the confidence of your fellow students, and you must justify that trust through transparency, accountability, inclusiveness, and dedication.

“Always work in partnership with the University Management, uphold the values of ESUT, and place the welfare of students above personal interests. Let your tenure be remembered for innovation, peace, integrity, and impactful service,” she said

Professor Okwo commended the immediate past SUG administration led by Faustina Nwodo for its service to the institution, announcing that members of the outgoing executive would receive Certificates of Meritorious Service in recognition of their contributions.

She also expressed concern over the low enrollment of ESUT students in the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund) scheme and charged the new SUG leadership to intensify awareness campaigns to encourage more students to take advantage of the initiative to alleviate the huge burden on their parents and guardians.

In his acceptance speech, the new ESUT SUG President, Comrade Nwobodo Isaac Chidera thank the Enugu State Government, the Vice-Chancellor and the his management; the Dean, Student Affairs, staff and students who worked assiduously to ensure that the Tuesday, July 7 elections were hitch-free.

Comr. Nwobodo promised that his leadership will be anchored on the welfare of the students and pleaded with the management, staff and students for their maximum support

“We will advocate persistently and responsibly for better accommodation, transport, healthcare, sanitation, campus safety and learning conditions. Your voice will never be ignored” he stated.  

Earlier in his lecture themed “Choice, Character, and Consequences: Confronting Cultism and Other Vices on Campus,” the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Enugu State Police Command, SP, Daniel Ndukwe, urged the new student leaders to embrace selfless leadership, become agents of positive change and be intentional in marketing their brand which is their institution.

He warned them against cultism and other social vices capable of destroying their future and tarnishing the reputation of the University.

Similarly, former SUG President, (UNN) and Lecturer in the Department of Psychology ESUT, Dr. Michael Eze, presented the inauguration lecture titled “Student Union Government and Unionism: It’s Role in Promoting Peaceful Campus Environment.” He advised the new executives to remain focused, uphold the principles of student unionism, and resist undue external influence throughout their tenure.

The oath of office was administered by the ESUT Registrar, Ambrose Ugwu, who formally inaugurated the new student leaders.