In its effort to ensure food security in the state, the Enugu State government, weekend,  flagged of the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support, L-PRES, programme on the training of farmers in the state on livestock production with over 450 farmers from the 17 local government areas participating

Performing the ceremony at the Master Skills Development and Service Ltd, in Agbani Nkanu West LGA of the state, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro Industrialisation, Hon. Patrick Ubru  who was  represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr Victor Ngwu said the programme was in line with Governor Peter Mbah’s promise to eradicate hunger, unemployment and ensure zero headcount poverty index in the state.

According to him,  the workshop would expose the participants to knowledge on how to maximize production, deal with any challenges that may arise in the course of operating their farms, ensuring proper management and production of sufficient protein for the state.

“It is the desire of Enugu State governor, Dr Peter Mbah that the state records zero hunger and zero poverty head count index. It was on this note that he had graciously approved this training and doing his part to ensuring that farmers in Enugu State produce enough for the people to consume and equally export.

“The state is already constructing a lot of rural roads to open up the economy of rural areas, making it easy for the farmers to have easy access to the cities. He is equally building Smart Green Schools and healthcare facilities to ensure that we and our children are healthy and educated. Thousands of Enugu farmers had already undergone different trainings and the Ministry of Agriculture under his watch shall continue to support the farmers and prioritize their welfare”, Ngwu said.

Speaking earlier, the State Project Coordinator of L-PRES, Dr. Ifeyinwa Nnajieze described L-PRES as a  project aimed at developing objectives to improve livestock productivity, resilience and commercialization of selected value chains, while ensuring economic diversification.

According to her,  L-PRES, is a body sponsored by the World Bank, federal and state governments  to ensure food sufficiency, while remaining resilient in the fight against food insecurity.

She further extoled the Enugu State governor, Dr Peter Mbah for the support his administration has been giving to the farmers, especially those in the livestock space who often undertake trainings and workshops, noting that Mbah’s vision to grow the state’s GDP from $4.4  billion to $30 billion, eradicate hunger and poverty in the state cannot be realized without being intentional about agriculture.

“It’s good to seize this opportunity and acquire much knowledge about the value chain you are operating under livestock. L-PRES has enjoyed the support of the Enugu State government under Governor Peter Mbah who is intentional in ensuring that our state produces sufficient foods for consumption and exports to other states and beyond the country.  His partnership with the World Bank and federal government is aimed at assisting the livestock farmers with the knowledge and skills which they will utilize in scaling up production,” the coordinator said.

Dr. Nnajieze recalled that the Enugu State Government in collaboration with the National Animal Production Research Institute, NAPRI had recently sponsored the training of 30 persons, most of which were the lecturers from the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) to Zaria, Kaduna State, for a two-weeks training on artificial insemination and the use of modern AI equipment to enhance animal productivity.

On his part, the  consultant and trainer at the Master Skills Development and Service Ltd, Prof. Benjamin Marire applauded Governor Mbah for his support to the farmers in the state, describing him as a man who knows his onions in the areas of leadership, empowerment and equipping of the people with the much needed resources and knowledge to embrace the agricultural revolution.

According to him, the training will empower the livestock farmers to make input on their farms, ensuring food security and taking care of the protein needs of the state, while maintaining that human development which the state has undertaken is a great tool in economic revolution.

“We at the Master Skills Development and Service Ltd are happy seeing the good works of the governor in the area of human development. We assure that we will give the participants the best of knowledge that will enable them make inputs that will make the state food sufficient”, he stated.

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The Enugu State Government has awarded contract for the dualisation of Ugwogo-Opi-Nsukka 43.1km Road.

This cheering news was disclosed by the Executive Governor of the, Dr Peter Ndubisi Mbah on Monday.

Dr Mbah who stated this while commissioning four newly constructed and reconstructed roads in Abakpa Nike said that work in the road will commence soon.

“Very soon, we will commence the dualisation of Penocks Junction on the Enugu-Onitsha Road, extending all the way to Opi-Nsukka. The contract has been awarded, and work will commence shortly.

“Our commitment to transforming Enugu State is unwavering, with many more roads and projects underway to enhance the lives of our people. Tomorrow Is Here!” he said.

It could be recalled that the Enugu State Government recently approved the sum of N183bn for the construction of 141 roads across Enugu metropolis and 20 rural roads across the three senatorial zones of the state.

The government also approved the award of 133 more smart schools in addition to the ongoing 127 smart schools to bring them to 260 or one smart school per political ward.

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Two years administration of the Vice-Chancellor, ESUT, Professor Aloysius-Michaels Nnabugwu Okolie has been described as “tremendous and rewarding”.

The university Registrar, Chief Ambrose Ugwu who stayed this in a chat said the oast two years in ESUT under the VC have witness recorded achievements both at infrastructure and humanitarian levels.

“As someone who has been in the system for several years, I think this two years anniversary of our VC has been something that is very tremendous and rewarding; because of a lot of things that he has put in place. It is unusual to see staff going to rest for a week or two but he came around and saw that at times all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. For the past one week or thereabout every staff of the university has been in vacation except those in essential duties.

“The Pharmaceutical Faculty is the highest pharmacy building in Nigeria, the same thing with the Department of Nursing, very soon MedLab will equally come there because the modules will contain all these department.

“Do we talk about Regularisation and Confirmation of Appointments? Before the arrival of the VC, we have not been following the work list of Regularisation and Confirmation of Appointments.

“Another thing we have to thank him for, is the issue of staff registering with their professional bodies. So many people don’t know that they belong to professional bodies but now, everybody is now having a professional certificate.

“He is not somebody that is interested in where you are coming from his interest is can you deliver and he will give you time and opportunity to try your luck and equally assist you.

ESUT is very happy and bless even though he brought Disruptive Innovations. Why I said so is that you know formerly staff in ESUT have been retiring in the same month 30th of September, but when he came, he said no. ‘We are not born the same day and it is not done I’m a civil service; you will retire on your date of birth or assumption of duty. It has brought sanity within the system.

“He also handled the issue of Election unlike before one phone call will just disturb whatever will are doing but now phone calls are restricted and no manipulation from anywhere we had a seamless Students Union Election.
Moreover, unlike before, 10 o’clock you won’t see staff in the offices but now before 7: 30 am to 9 o’clock, all the offices are open and it’s not longer an issue of when it is 3 o’clock you see people standing at the NCC building looking for vehicles they now stay till 4 o’clock.

“Talk of the increase in quota in Medicine, we met it at 50 but now it has been increased to 240, the same with Nursing, we met it at 50 but now it has increased to 100; Medlab we met it at 30 but now it has increased to 180, what we are planning is to increase Nursing to 200 and law. In the aspect of collaboration, we have them.

“His two years in office has been a great moment for everyone and we pray God to continue to sustain him. I didn’t talk about regular payment of salary because within the management level, we don’t regard it as achievement because it is the cardinal principle of the VC that a labourer deserves his wages. As we say in Igbo, onye rụọ, orie. (He who works, eats)”

Professor Aloysius-Michaels Okolie was appointed ESUT Vice-Chancellor on April 4, 2022 by the Enugu State Government.

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On the 4th of April, 2022, the Enugu State Government announced the appointment of Professor Aloysius-Michaels Nnabugwu Okolie as the new Vice-Chancellor of Nigeria’s premier Science and Technology University, Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT). The appointment was contained in a letter signed by the then Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Simon Uchenna Ortuanya. The appointment was with effect from Monday, April 4, 2022.

Upon assumption of office, Prof. Okolie anchored his administration on restoring the old values setup by founding fathers of ESUT with a purpose of making the citadel of learning to be reckoned with as one of the first-class and highly competitive universities East of the Niger with administrative and academic excellence comparable to other global top-class tertiary institutions.

“The first vision I have for ESUT is to restore the basic values of scholarship and research and to turn the minds of the academia, including the non-teaching staff into believing in themselves and getting the internal orientation arising from reflection. I will make them to believe that they are cut out to perform specific functions which have to do with promoting teaching, research, collaboration and networking between groups, trans-groups and inter-groups with a view to extending frontiers of knowledge and building a very virile community of scholars in ESUT,” Prof Okolie disclosed on his first day in office.

Since assuming office as Vice-Chancellor, he has been on a mission to transform the university into a centre of excellence that serves not only the state of Enugu, but the entire nation and beyond.

With over twenty years of academic experience, Professor Okolie is no stranger to the world of academia his research interests spanning a wide range of topics, including political theory, human rights, conflict resolution, and international relations. He has authored several books and numerous academic papers, and his work has been widely cited by scholars and policymakers alike.

Invariably, ESUT was not a novel ground for him to explore.

Under his stewardship, the University has undergone a rapid transformation that has left many observers amazed at the speed and efficiency of the changes that have taken place. These transformations cut across physical development, staff and students’ welfare, discipline, research and innovation, scholarship, revival of committee system and return to the extant culture of the University among others.

Physical infrastructure: One of the most notable achievements of Professor Okolie’s administration has been the construction of a multi-million-naira asphalted pavilion for convocation, matriculation, and other ceremonies at ESUT. This has provided a much-needed upgrade to the University’s infrastructure and has given students and staff alike a sense of pride and belonging.

Chronicles of other modest achievements that fall under infrastructural development and improvement of existing facilities include but not limited to: replacement of seats at the Julius Onah Auditorium, ESUT; replacement of seats at the Senate Chambers; installation of solar energy in the Vice Chancellor’s office; improvement of electricity supply on campus by attracting the donation of additional electric feeder from stakeholders in the state.

Below are the list of THIRTY ACHIEVEMENTS, inter alia, recorded by the Vice-Chancellor in two years of his stewardship:

1.         Increment of Medical Laboratory admission quota from 50 to 240. The latest figure was confirmed during the Senate sitting on Thursday, March 28.

2.         Creation of Five New Departments – Mathematics, Statistics, Environmental Management, History and International Studies and Mechatronics Engineering

3.         Establishment of effective calendar for ESUT.

4.         Successful conduct of Biometric verification of staff members which helped to flush out tens of “ghost workers” and millions of naira saved.

5.         Successful conduct of Regularisation of staff members

6.         Regular Payment of staff salaries and entitlements

7.         Massive Promotion of deserving staff members as well as confirmation of appointment of workers

8.         Relocation of Pharmaceutical Faculty to its permanent site in Agbani

9.         Naming of Streets and major Roads in ESUT after prominent Nigerians

10.       Creation of favourable working environment with University staff/workers’ unions and associations.

11.       Buying over of Afrihub Building and converting same to Internet hub

12.       Re-establishment of ESUT Radio, 106.5fm which is 90 percent completion

13.       Improved webometric ranking of the University by the NUC in its 2023 rankings of the Nigerian Universities where ESUT was elevated to 29 out of 111 universities in Nigeria

14.       Digitalisation of ESUT records to enhance transparency and accountability in the system, reduce administrative bottlenecks, and improve the overall quality of service delivery to stakeholders of the University.

15.       Attraction of extra 30 plots of land from host communities for the building of ESUT Secondary School

16.       About 15 hectares of land have been mapped out for planting of oil palm seedlings and pawpaw trees. The project, which involves the planting of 25, 000 seedlings of hybrid palm trees, is in the offing with the aim of making the university a major supplier of palm oil and pawpaw fruits within the next two years in Enugu State and South-East region.

17.       Back-to-back conduct of ESUT Convocation in 2022 and 2023. The last convocation, prior, was in 2016. The date for the 2024 Convocation has been set already to hold on Saturday, November 23.

18.       Asphalting of ESUT Ebeano Convocation Arena.

19.       Clearing Pharmacy Graduates to embark on National Youth Service. Prior to his appointment on April 4, some past graduates of the department were not going on the mandatory one-year national service.

20.       Full accreditation of over 89% of programmes that had undergone the NUC verification/accreditation processes.

21.       Increment of number of admitted students into the university from less than three thousand to over six thousand in 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 admission years, respectively.

22.       Attraction of the construction of one kilometre road in ESUT to be carried out by the Enugu State Government.  The road construction is expected to commence soon.

23.       Installation of Solar Energy in various hostels in the university that cost over two hundred million naira.

24.       Bringing the first helicopter to touch down ESUT premises during the 2023 Convocation ceremony on November 18, 2023.

25.       Enthroning discipline, punctuality and probity among the staff.

26.       Employment of ten able bodied men from the host communities as security personnel 

27.       Ensuring and implementing his policy of zero tolerance for cultism, social vices and examination malpractice with some students either under investigation, expelled or are facing trials in courts for their offences.

28.       Partnership with Eastwing Aviation Institute, Enugu, for the development of aircraft engineering technology in the South-East and beyond

29.       Perhaps most importantly, Professor Okolie’s administration has not owed staff monthly salaries since he assumed duty. This has been a significant morale booster for staff, who have often had to go for months without pay due to financial constraints within the University.

30.       Engagement with MTN to provide 4G network to boost internet connectivity on campus.

The list is not exhaustive.

Professor Okolie’s two-year stewardship as Vice-Chancellor of ESUT has been characterized by a strong commitment to excellence, innovation, and reform. He has demonstrated a deep understanding of the challenges facing Nigerian universities, and has taken decisive actions to address them. With two years down and additional three years to come in his five-year tenure, Prof Okolie has set a standard for himself and he cannot afford to lower the guard going forward. 

Professor Aloysius-Michaels Okolie’s Profile

Aloysius-Michaels Nnabugwu Okolie, born decades ago in Umuhu village of Agwu Local Government Area, Enugu State, is a Professor of Political Science and International Relations of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN.

Prior to his current appointment, he was Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, UNN and was also Chairman, UNN Chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

Regarded as Disruptive Innovator, Professor Okolie holds a Bachelor of Science degree (B.Sc.) in Political Science/Administrative Studies; a Master of Science (M.Sc.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in International Relations.  He was a Fulbright Scholar in 2004 at the prestigious American Studies Institute on United States Foreign Policy. He holds a postgraduate Diploma in Management of Higher Education from the Galilee International Management Institute, Israel.

As an erudite scholar, Professor Okolie was also a resource person to the National Defence College, Abuja, on Foreign Policy and National Security Round-table on Nigeria and her Immediate Neighbours.

He has held many leadership positions including: Chairman, Governing Council, Enugu State College of Education, Technical, 2021 till date. Vice President (2nd), Social Science Academy of Nigeria, 2021 – date. President, Nigerian Political Science Association (NPSA), 2018 – 2021. Pioneer Director, Joint Universities Preliminary Examinations Board (JUBEB), UNN, 2014 – 2019.

He is a renowned international Scholar and Researcher with over one hundred and eight (108) publications to his credit. Professor Okolie belongs to several national and international scholarly and professional Associations and has served in several national and international Committees including: Member, Federal Government Committee on NEEDS Assessment of Nigerian Universities; member Committee on Bilateral Relationship between DAPAD Foundation of Japan and UNN, and member, Visitation Team to Public Universities. A devout Christian, Professor Okolie is a Knight of the Order of St. Mulumba, in the Catholic faith. He is married and blessed with adorable children

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More commendations have continued to pour in following the relaunch of the ESUT Monitor Newspaper with the Honourable Commissioner for Water Resources, Enugu State, Dr. Felix Nnamani promising that he would continue to identify with the paper.

Hon. Nnamani who described the paper as a “quality production” said the “sky will be your stepping stone” in his appraisal of the paper when the editorial team paid him a visit in his office, recently. He charged the department to sustain the paper.

 “You guys are in the pipeline, with the kind of quality production you’ve done in the campus. If you have the backup and resources that is required, the sky will be your stepping stone.

“All I can say is for you to keep it up, I’m impressed with this (holding the newspaper). I’ll continue to identify with this. Mass Communication is one of the pioneer departments in ESUT. The University was structured after Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US. It was going to be totally University of Technology. Mass Communication was one of the social sciences that got a space afterwards. That’s why you have quality journalists both in the print and broadcast media. Congratulations to you and to the Mass Communication Department of our University,” he said.

He commended the great works put into the department by various individuals who had previously management the department.

“Your current HoD is doing a great work reviving the paper. I will also not forget great men in your department like Professors Chris Ngwu, Ifeanyi Didiugwu, Ike Ndolo, Sunny Udeze and so many others that are very active and sound.”

Since the return of the paper in the newsstands nearly two months ago, it has continued to receive encomiums from both the Enugu State Government, ESUT Management, Professors as well as individuals who have expressed delight for the revival. 

The ESUT Registrar, Mr Ambrose Ugwu described the newspaper as “the watchdog of the university”

The Newspaper which served the university community previously but went out of circulation in 2015 was relaunched on November 16, 2023 following the appointment of Dr Chidiebere Ezinwa as the new Head of Mass Communication Department, ESUT in September.

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The Enugu State Government has charged the Department of Mass Communication, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT to do everything it takes to sustain the newly revived ESUT Monitor Newspaper.

The Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Honourable (Professor) Samuel Ugwu stated this in an exclusive interview with ESUT Monitor in his office.

The Former Dean, Postgraduate Studies, ESUT, expressed delight that the Department has come up with a practical reality of what it takes to study journalism in the university.  

“My idea on the paper is that there should be sustainability because sustainability is one of the problems we have. We come up with vision and all of a sudden it dies. It’s not proper. You should be able to sustain the newspaper. So I advise that you should sustain it,” he said.

The Commissioner further advised the editorial team to diversify their story base instead of concentrating on one department or faculty.

“The one you showed me and the one I read now is a high-quality paper but I advise you, you don’t need to concentrate on Mass Communication alone. Because from what I saw, 99 percent of what you wrote is about Mass Communication, apart from our Vice Chancellor who is our Boss. You people should diversify and see what is happening in other places.

“Other faculties like Engineering, Management Sciences, Social Sciences, and others so you can get more information for subsequent publications. Make sure you have a good editorial team.”

The commissioner promised to support the newspaper in the best way he could.

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The Enugu State Government has disclosed of its plan to drill borehole at the state owned University, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, ESUT Monitor can report

The Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Professor Samuel Ugwu stated this in a chat with ESUT Monitor Newspaper in his office.

Professor Ugwu who until his appointment was a lecturer in the Department of Political Science, ESUT said that attracting project to the university is his priority stressing that the institution made him whom he is today.

“ESUT is my first priority because it was from ESUT I took off and went for chairmanship and currently a commissioner. We are making an effort already because other people too from ESUT are putting heads together. Like Professor Osy Okanya who is the Executive Chairman of Local Government Commission, is part of us. We are putting heads together on our side as individuals. We are equally doing something to ensure that the issue of water scarcity in the university is reduced. 

“We need to discuss with the person in charge of water. We are considering if more boreholes will be there and we are using the Ministry of Water Resources to do something,” he said.

ESUT has been facing shortage of water supply in the campus recently with students complaining of not having enough water for their daily use.

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