By Amanoh Chioma

Prof. Patrick Ejikeme, the new Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) has promised to consolidate of the achievements recorded by his predecessor, Prof Thompson Chime.

Prof Ejikeme disclosed this on Friday during the change of deanship baton in the faculty. He stated that his immediate priority for the faculty would be to sustain unity among staff to achieve a peaceful learning environment which he believes can bring about progress in the faculty.

The Dean also expressed his plans to establish a good and sustainable research direction to enable the faculty stand-out from other faculties within the University.

He further stated that improving academic standards would requires full corporation of everyone as well as monitoring and implementation adding that lecturer’s performance and attendance would be closely monitored, as well as students attendance as both parties works hand-in-hand to promote effective pedagogy .

“To my predecessor, Prof Chime, I want to thank you for the great strides you recorded for the faculty. You lead critical foundations for the faculty to grow. I will consolidate on them,” he said.

Speaking during the handover, the outgone dean, Prof Chime congratulated his successor and urged him to be a team player. He expressed gratitude to the staff and students of the faculty as well as the university management for their maximum support adding that administration is a collective enterprise.

“I want to once again congratulate you on emerging victorious during the election and today you begin your journey as the new dean of our faculty. Be rest assured of my support at all times. Leadership is a collective efforts and because the faculyty is our family, we will join hands with your to make it better.

“Let me also use this opportunity to thank the staff, students and the university management for their support to the faculty during my time. The Vice-Chancellor and his team is very supportive and helped us in recording the achievements we had in the past two years. I also urge the staff and students to extend the same hands of fellowship to our new dean,” he said.

Prof Ejikeme’s tenure will last till the 2027/2028 academic session.