By Nnabuenyi Chioma and Amanoh Chioma

In a bold bid to elevate academic infrastructure and meet strict National Universities Commission (NUC) standards, the newly returned Head of the Department of Business Administration at Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Professor Adonai Okechukwu Okonkwo, has unveiled a grand blueprint centered on a massive alumni and parent homecoming event to fund a state-of-the-art lecture hall and dedicated office blocks for lecturers.

He spoke exclusively with ESUT Monitor in his office

Introduction and Professional Background

I am Professor Adonai Okechukwu Okonkwo, the immediate past Director of the Industrial Training Unit/SIWES at Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT). I previously served as the Head of Department here from 2019 to 2022, after which I was moved to the directorship position. Following that role—as they say, the reward for hard work is more work—I was returned to the department to help organize things and keep operations running smoothly.

Vision and Future Plans for the Department

I have a very big plan for the department. Having worked here for years, I am deeply familiar with the challenges facing this department. I must emphasize that my predecessors did excellent jobs.

Moving forward, my primary plan is to uplift the department’s image. Specifically, I intend to host a “homecoming” event to sit down with our students and their parents to discuss how they can support the department. We successfully did this when we were based in Enugu; the parents made contributions that allowed us to purchase operational vehicle for the department. Though that vehicle is currently grounded, my goal this time isn’t to ask for another car. Instead, we want to look toward building a lecture hall or another major project that will significantly benefit both the department and the entire ESUT community.

Historical Background of the Department

This department is as old as ESUT itself, which was established in 1980. Originally, it was known as the School of Business Studies and housed four separate disciplines under a single Head of Department: Public Administration, Marketing, Business Administration, and Cooperative and Economics Management. There was also the School of Financial Studies. Over time, these programs split into distinct departments. While the foundational studies date back to 1980, the formal split occurred around 1985–1986, which is when the department began operating in its modern structure.

Current Challenges and Proposed Solutions

The primary challenge here is accommodation. While several of our professors have offices, they lack adequate furniture. I have already directed the affected staff to put their requests in writing so I can formally forward them to the Vice-Chancellor.

Furthermore, office space is a major constraint. As a long-standing professor, my current office is quite spacious, but many of our newly promoted professors are occupying spaces that are a quarter of this size. To address this, I want to use the upcoming homecoming event to advocate for a designated university site where stakeholders can help us build a dedicated office block for lecturers. This will ensure our staff accommodation aligns with the standards stipulated by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

Student Admission Capacity and Staffing Ratio

We currently have 23 lecturers in this department. To give you some context, back between 1989 and 1991, this department accommodated about 400 students with far fewer staff members than we have now. According to NUC guidelines, the ideal lecturer-to-student ratio is roughly 1 to 36. Given our current workforce, if we receive an annual intake of up to 500 students, we have more than enough manpower to handle it effectively.

Expected Changes and Commitment to Staff Welfare

Well, I am not God, and I am not the Vice-Chancellor. I am fully committed to doing whatever is within my power to improve staff welfare. Of course, I will mostly be advocating and pleading on their behalf. I have the voice to beg for resources, but I do not hold the pen to sign them into law.

Academic Milestones and Career Advice for students

Let me use my own journey as an example to the students. You never know where life will take you tomorrow. Before entering academia, I was a non-academic staff member at the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT). I earned my Master’s degree there and never initially planned to become a lecturer. Today, I am not just a lecturer, but a professor. In fact, I am a distinguished professor because I delivered the very first inaugural lecture in the history of this department. I was the 7th inaugural lecturer in the entire faculty and the 49th in the history of ESUT.

My primary advice to students—whether you or your parents are paying the school fees—is to remain focused. Understand that whoever is funding your education has done their part; the rest is up to you. Be serious with your studies and commit everything to God. Many people graduate today and struggle to find employment, but dedication opens doors.

I have personally benefited immensely from the goodwill built through teaching. I have four children, and all of them are successfully employed in the federal civil service. When my daughter graduated as a lawyer, I didn’t even know where to purchase her legal wig. One of my former students stepped in, bought the wig for her, and helped connect her to a strategic role. Today, she is the number three legal signatory in Nigeria within her department. I share this to emphasize that you must be serious and build meaningful relationships with your colleagues. The classmates you sit next to today might be the very people who will help you tomorrow. Know why you are here, study hard, and back everything with prayers.

Cultural Heritage and the Significance of the Red Cap

The cap  I wear carries a very long history. Anyone who attended my inaugural lecture would have seen the heavy presence of traditional chiefs from my community. This heritage dates back to long before my parents were even married. My great-grandfather was a traditional chief, which is why I am addressed as a prince. Later in 1976, when the government began formally recognizing the Igwe (traditional ruler) institution, I was the one who stood right beside the chosen ruler before he was crowned.

Regarding the red cap I am wearing, my community selected me for this honour. While many traditional rulers have written to me offering chieftaincy titles, the title I hold is much deeper than a standard chieftaincy. I hold the Chinawaroji title, which is an Ozo title—making me a member of the prestigious Nze na Ozo society in my community. This cap was not given by an Igwe, though I possess those titles as well. This belongs strictly to the Nze na Ozo institution. As our people say in Igbo,”Onye ọcha chiri Eze, ọ ga-achikwe Ozo? “Anyone can be made a generic chief, but it takes exceptional integrity and alignment to be called into the sacred Nze na Ozo circle.