Ali Hope and Amanoh Chioma

The outgoing Head, Department of Computer Engineering at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) Dr. Chioma Oleka, has spoken about her achievements in improving facilities and welfare of staff while calling for more teaching staff in the department.

Dr. Oleka, who took office on September 19, 2024, disclosed this during an interview with ESUT Monitor on Tuesday during the official handover to her successor, Dr Godwin Ozor. She explained that when she started, her focus was fixing broken structures across departmental offices, laboratories, and the library among others.

To solve the big problems of power cuts and poor network, Dr. Oleka worked with the staff and past students to install a 5 KVA solar power system and high speed Starlink internet connection in the department.

“What we need now is heavy intervention so that my successor, Dr Ozor, will not suffer what I suffered in buying fuel,” Dr. Oleka said. She added that the department also bought a new heavy duty copying machine, seven desktop computers, and a new printer to help students learn digital skills and keep school exams safe and private.

She highlighted a special training programme “Cyberspace: A Place of Opportunities” held on February 24 to teach students and teachers how to utilize online opportunities. She added that her administration helped poor students pay their school fees and provided daily food support for a student in need.

On the major challenges, the former HOD pointed out shortage of teachers as her biggest challenge adding that oftentimes, they are overwhelmed with works. She noted that all lecturers are senior academics, with the lowest soon becoming an Associate Professor. She therefore appealed to the Vice-Chancellor and the University management to come to the aid of the department by recruiting more lecturers to enhance teaching and learning.

“We did our best to achieve the much we could, leadership as far as I know is a collective obligation. Without the help of my staff members and the students, we could have done anything. I thank all of them and ask God to bless them.

“To our visionary VC, I can’t thank him enough, he has been very supportive to our department and I appreciate him. The only request I want to make now is to appeal to him and his management to consider recruiting more lecturers for us. The work load is much with few teachers.

My Dean, Professor Thompson Chime was a great pillar of support. In fact, I had great men and women around and that is why the administration was able to deliver” she said.

On his part, the new HOD, Dr Godswill Ozor, commended the leadership sagacity of his predecessor and promised that he would consolidate on the already established platforms to take the department to the higher pedestal.

Dr Ozor further called for continued support from staff and students adding that welfare of the staff and students remains the top agenda in his administration.

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