The Enugu State Government will Immortalize former Captain and Coach of Nigeria’s national team, the Super Eagles, Late Christian Chukwu

Governor of the State, His Excellency Peter Ndubuisi Mbah states this on Wednesday when he, along with the Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly and the Commissioner for youth and sports, paid a courtesy Visit to the family.

Governor Mbah while commiserating with the family said Mr Chukwu’s death was devastating adding that the state government will immortalize his name.

He described the late footballer, popularly known as Chairman, as a legend, who served his country unreservedly and inspired millions of youths. He said the Government and people of Enugu, his home State, were thoroughly devastated by the death.

Speaking to newsmen after consoling the family and also signing a condolence register, Mbah said, “We have come here to commiserate with the family and also to express our devastation. We are just as devastated by his death; and his death is not just a loss to the family alone, it is a loss to all of us, particularly the government and the people of Enugu State.

“As you know, our beloved brother and legend, Chairman Christian Chukwu is a household name that inspired a lot of young people. He represents a lot of values when it comes to sport globally not just even in Nigeria.

“So, we are so devastated by his death, but we have also come here to assure the family that this loss is not just theirs, this is our collective loss; that we are going to be with them all through this period of grief, and that we are also going to ensure that his name is immortalised.”

He also prayed for the peaceful repose of Chukwu’s soul and for fortitude on the part of his family to bear the irreparable loss.

Also with the governor at the round leather maestro’s residence were the Speaker, Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Uchenna Ugwu and the Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, Barr. Lloyd Ekweremadu.

Chukwu died on Saturday in Enugu aged 74.

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Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, Tuesday, flagged off the construction of 141 urban roads across 13 zones of the state capital, insisting residents of the city and Enugu State deserved nothing but the best.

The beneficiary zones are Abakpa, Achara Layout, Asata, Awkunanaw, Coal Camp, Independence Loyout, New Haven, Old GRA, Thinkers Corner, Trans-Ekulu, and Uwani.

Performing the symbolic flag-off at Ologo under Coal Camp Zone Enugu North LGA and Monaque Avenue in Awkunanaw Zone, Enugu South LGA, Mbah explained that the roads were part of his administration’s vision to eradicate poverty, grow Enugu State’s economy to $30bn and make the state a premier destination for investment, business, tourism, and for living.

“For me, this is not about putting a black pavement on our roads. What I see is empowering our women and making sure that we create a platform for them to generate wealth. Do not forget that our commitment is to eradicate poverty, and we know that we cannot just wish the eradication of poverty into existence. We need to do the necessary things required by government to ensure that we have zero hunger. We know what critical infrastructure like roads do for our communities.

“We know that it will ensure that those that are doing business have more patronage, and even those living here will no longer have to spend so much on transportation because the cost of transportation will reduce. If a Keke (commercial tricycle) man that is supposed to carry you knows he will drive on a good road, he will charge you less. What that does is that it provides you more disposable income and thereby chasing poverty away from our community,” he stated.

The governor explained that the 141 roads had been organised into 17 lots to ensure completion in the next three months, assuring that funds had been provided, while due diligence was done on the contractors to ensure that the jobs were awarded to capable hands only.

Meanwhile, a resident of Ologo, Chief Chris Okaka and President-General of Amechi-Uwani, Chief Ifeanyi Nnaji, hailed Mbah for remembering Ologo and Monaque Avenue neighbourhoods after over forty years of neglect by successive governments.

“For the past forty years, nobody has done this road. We went house to house to collect money to do one other side of the drainage. After doing one side, we could not do the other because everyone was complaining of hardship.

“But I told them that Peter Mbah was coming and he would do it. Your Excellency, today you are here to do the road. We have said that by 2027, any other poster we see here, we will tear it off. You are going for your second term.”

Likewise, the Council Chairman of Enugu North, Hon. Ibenaku Onoh, and his Enugu South counterpart, Hon. Caleb Ani, said the governor’s ward-based development had made things easier for the 17 local government councils.

“Therefore, we will hold down the grassroots politics for you by following your example in prioritising everything that affects the people. At the right time, the people of Enugu State will reward you with more support,” Ono stated.

The Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Gerald Otiji, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Project Development and Implementation, promised intensive supervision in addition to all necessary steps taken during project preparation to ensure the delivery of quality jobs.

The contractors, on their part, also assured the governor of quality and timely project delivery, having passed the stringent procurement processes and conditions set by his administration.

The flag-off in Pictures

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The Vice-Chancellor, ESUT, Professor Aloysius-Michaels Okolie has disclosed that the Enugu State Government has not increased the University’s subvention for the past two and a half decades

The Vice-Chancellor who stated his in an Interview on the backdrop of the implementation of the ₦80, 000 new minimum wage in the university, noted that the management would not be able to effectively pay the new minimum wage without an upward review in the monthly subvention the school receives from the government.

Prof Okie who acknowledged the management’s readiness to pay, added that the new minimum wage will scale up the wage bill, thus the need for review.

“If you approve new minimum wage, you have to increase subvention. For now, subvention hasn’t been increased for the past 25 years,” the VC said.

He noted that with new programmes being incorporated into the university, new challenges such as staffing would arise as well as the additional salary

“Even with all these new programmes, the subvention is just ₦136 million, and our wage bill is about N440 million.

“The local governments pay N68 million, and if you add that to the state government’s contribution, you get N204 million.

“The last time we checked, they owed us N82 million. Unremitted subvention from the local government hasn’t been updated to know if it has reached N100 million.

“As of May, they owed us over N200 million. We used JAC to ask for the money, and it’s piling up again as debt. In fact, I have to tell you that we received subvention from the state government for November on December 19. If we had waited, we would be paying staff their November salaries on December 20.

“These are the challenges. We are ready to pay the new minimum wage but we also need the state government to review the subvention we are receiving,” the Vice-Chancellor concluded

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By Joseph Joy, Chiekezie Emmanuel, Onyekachi Agu and Ani Ruth

Enugu – In November, the Enugu State Government began the implementation of the ₦80, 000 new minimum wage as approved by the Governor, Barr Dr Peter Ndubisi Mbah in October.

The Governor had in October approved N80,000 minimum wage for the state’s work force, including local government workers, effective October 2024.

Although the Governor lived up to his promise by starting the payment of the new minimum wage to the state workers, ESUT Monitor can authoritatively report that the staff of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, owned by the state government, are not part of those who are currently being paid the new minimum wage.

Prior to the Christmas and New Year break on Friday December 20, various unions in ESUT had threatened to embark on industrial action to press home their demand for inclusion and other outstanding benefits.

This paper understands that while the threat to down tools, perhaps when the university resumes on Monday, January 6, 2025 has not been waved, the staff are agitated over their exclusion from the new minimum wage payment.

Investigation shows that ESUT Staff were also excluded from the wage award of N25,000 the Governor approved for workers from December 2023 till October 2024 when the new minimum wage of N80,000 was approved and consequently reflected in the November salary

Speaking in an exclusive interview with our reporters, ESUT’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof Aloysius-Michaels Okolie acknowledged that indeed the staff of the university are not yet paid but offered explanations.

He noted that situation is not perculiar to ESUT but affects all Enugu State owned tertiary institutions who are receiving subventions from the government. He explained further that the ESUT management, likewise other institutions’ Managements are waiting for the state government to issue them a White Paper on the Consequential Adjustment relating to the implementation of the new minimum wage.

“The Council discussed this in our last meeting before we went on break. We’re waiting for the document that reflects the consequential adjustment. Most of them at the ministry aren’t very concerned about consequential adjustments. When you increase the minimum wage, there’s a White Paper that guides the consequential adjustment. We haven’t seen that from the governor.

“You don’t become arbitrary when you increase the minimum wage. It’s not enough to say they’ve increased it, but once the government issues us a White Paper stating the increment, procedure of consequential adjustment, reflecting on what they’ll bring, ESUT will equally join. Assuming they bring 33% from the local government, the implication is that ESUT has been bringing 57% and augmenting it.

“If you move people below ₦80, 000 to ₦80, 000 you should have consequential adjustments. The picture at the ministries isn’t clear, though we discussed it at the Council. How can we get them to bring the White Paper that will guide us to do the needful?

“This issue does not affect only ESUT but also no state university in Enugu State has started implementing it because of the challenges I explained. The heads of other tertiary institutions face the same challenges. We want to pay, but the government must bring consequential adjustments with matching upgrades so we can start paying,” the VC explained.

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In a bid to save lives and ensure sanity in all tertiary institutions, the Enugu State Government has banned all forms of reckless driving and car show by graduating students in all tertiary institutions owned by the State.

The ban was contained in a circular issued and signed by the Honourable Commissioner for Education, Prof Nwabueze Mbah on Friday.

The Circular sent to all the heads of tertiary institutions in Enugu State such as ESUT, SUMAS, IMT, ESCET and ESPOLY noted that the ban follows a resolution of the Enugu State House of Assembly to prohibit car rides and alcoholic abuse by graduating students in the state’s higher educational institutions.

The statement titled “RE: Resolution of The Honourable House on a Motion to ban Car Rides
and Alcoholic Abuse During STUDENTS’ Graduation Celebration in the
Tertiary Institutions of Learning in Enugu State: reads

“His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Enugu State received with dismay a report of a culture of alcoholic abuse and dangerous car rides in our tertiary institutions during graduation ceremonies.

“His Excellency directs that all Heads of Tertiary Institutions in Enugu State should strictly adhere to
the following resolutions of the Enugu State House of Assembly (ENHA):

• Ban on all forms of reckless celebration during graduation ceremonies.
• Ban on all forms of reckless car shows and driving involving hanging on vehicle roofs and
  windows by jubilating students and their cohorts.

“You are hereby requested to implement the resolutions of the Enugu State House of Assembly and the directive of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Enugu State.”

It is no longer need that cases of reckless driving, acholic abuse during graduation celebrations in tertiary Institutions have caused more havocs often times leading to loss of lives, avoidable accident and traffic on major roads

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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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Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has flagged-off the construction and dualisation of the 43.7km Penoks-Abakpa Nike-Ugwogo-Nike-Opi Nsukka Road with streetlights and 18-month completion timeframe in line with his administration’s vision to make the state the premier destination for investment, business, tourism, and living.

Speaking during the flag-off ceremony at Opi attended by political heavy weights and leaders of Nsukka Zone, Mbah stressed that the the project, which includes straightening the of many bends, would drastically reduce accidents and criminality on the road.

“In the build-up to the election and in my acceptance speech after my election, we made a pledge that we are going to dualise the Penoks-Abakpa-Ugwogo-Opi-Nsukka Road because . we realised from the outset that if we had to grow this economy to an exponential height, no section of this state should be left behind, more so an economic hub like Nsukka Zone. So, all we are doing here today is connecting those dots,” he said.

Mbah regretted that a trip from Enugu to Nsukka presently takes over an hour, hence the decision to do the 3.6km from the Penoks Junction all the way to the T-Junction flyover in addition to the 41km Abakpa Nike-Opi Nsukka Road to reduice travel time to about 30 minutes and make it possible for the people to comfortably live and work in Enugu and vice versa.

He also noted that his administration’s grassroot-based development and economic model placed the Enugu North Zone at an advantage.

“We are doing projects based on electoral wards. Guess who are the greatest beneficiaries of this model? It is the Nsukka zone. You have 102 electoral wards. That means you will end up with 102 smart schools, 102 Type 2 Primary Healthcare Centres, over 1,000km of roads based since we are additionally going to do at least 10km of roads per ward,” he remarked.

In his remark, the traditional ruler of Edem-Ani and Chairman, Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Samuel Asadu, said, “The people of Nsukka cultural zone and Enugu North Senatorial District never imagined the possibility of this life-time project. The only way we can pay you back is that you do not need to come to campaign here for your second tenure because we are all going to do that for you. You are Godsent to the people of Nsukka, Enugu State and Nigeria at large.”

Also speaking, the Deputy Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Ezeani Ezenta, noted that the governor had shut the mouths of naysayers.

“I feel emotional because a lot of things were said during the election. But today, by your good work, you have proved yourself even more Nsukka than any other Nsukka man,” he emphasised.

On his part, former Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Chief Okechukwu Itanyi, described the project as “gigantic, huge, unbelievable and marvelous,” noting that it would open Nsukka Zone and the state to the world.

“This is a legacy project. Your name will never die. Your spirit shall never die. We will continue to give you support,” he added.

Other speakers, including the Chairman of Nsukka Nsukka LGA, Hon. Jude Asogwa, former Secretaries to the State Government, Dr. Dan Shere and Prof. Simon Ortuanya, among others extolled the initiative.

Significantly, in a press statement he personally issued on Monday, Member representing Igboeze North/Udenu Federal Constituency on the platform of the Labour Party, Hon. Dennis Agbo, described the road as “a transformational project, which will greatly facilitate commerce, ease mass transit and evacuation of farm produce by our hard working farmers as well as fight crime and criminality.“

“Our governor has clearly demonstrated his uncanny ability to see and unleash the enormous potential of our dear state and people. It is heartwarming to note that Enugu has suddenly become a frontline state and a reference point for transformational project initiatives,” he stated.

The Member representing Nkanu East/Nkanu West Federal Constituency and Leader of the Enugu State Caucus of the National Assembly, Hon
Nnoli Nnaji, expressed the total delight of the federal lawmakers at the governor’s development initiatives and pledged their total support for him to move the state forward.

Meanwhile the CEO of COMAG Construction Company, Cosmas Agu pledged to deliver a high quality project and on schedule.

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The Enugu State Government has stated that it is not in a hurry to make upward adjustment to the subvention it pays to its parent university, the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT.

The State Government rather said that it would not increase ESUT’s subvention in isolation to other state tertiary institutions who also receive government’s financial support.

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof Chidiebere Onyia who disclosed this while delivering a lecture at the two-day capacity building training workshop for frontline staff in ESUT, said the state government will need to carry out human capital audit to ascertain the actual number of workers in the state who are adding value.

Speaking on the theme “Leadership and Strategic Planning in Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria”, the state government scribe said that despite receiving 40% of its revenue from the federal government, the government is supporting the university with capital projects

“The state government receives 40% of its revenue from the federal allocation. Check the allocation and juxtapose it with current budget, you find out that we have barely 30% left for capital project. We have increased revenue generation by deploying technology to pluck loopholes.

“We are mindful and the VC will tell you, how much the government supports ESUT in capital projects. We are mindful of the fact that there will be a time where we have to review subventions across all institutions, not just ESUT. What we are doing now is to audit our human capital. At local government, we found out that 2000 staff were ghost workers and you could imagine the wage bill since 10 years now.

“By the time we entre December, we would have saved almost ₦2 billion from Local Government wage bill and we will be making ₦270 billion in revenue in a year what past government made in four years.

“We are now doing state verification and found out that the number of staff is two-third of the current staff being paid. We will make the adjustment where we are able to get the right number of people who are working and the value they add so that when we increase, we know that we are increasing money for value delivery not just that we want to increase. So, we are coming there, give us time,” the SSG said in an interview.

In his keynote address, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Aloysius-Michaels Okolie challenged the staff to ensure that the workshop had an impact both in their productivity, work ethics and relationship with subordinates and students.

“Now that you have been trained, you will be blamed” he warned.

How Much Does Enugu State Government Pay As subvention to ESUT?

Investigation by ESUT Monitor shows that the State and local governments currently support the university with ₦204 millon out of its ₦440 million monthly wage bill which is 46%

Each of the 17 local governments pays ₦4 million making a total of ₦68 million while the state government contributes ₦136 million monthly.

The university management is left to source for, each month, the sum of ₦236 million to pay staff salaries and entitlements. As challenging as this situation is, the university management, since inception in April 2022, has consistently and regularly paid staff their salaries.

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By Sebastine Okafor, Enugu

Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah of Enugu State has been commended for his visionary approach to revitalizing the state’s agricultural sector.

The Vice-Chancellor of Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Prof. Aloysius Michaels Nnabugwu Okolie, made this commendation on Tuesday during a courtesy visit by a delegation from the Enugu State Ministry of Agriculture, led by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Nwabueze Ubru, along with agricultural consultants from Texas A&M University-Kingsville, USA.

Prof. Okolie highlighted that Governor Mbah’s agricultural vision is crucial for fostering economic growth and ensuring food sufficiency in Enugu State. He emphasized that ESUT, as a university of technology, is ready to align with the governor’s agricultural initiatives. “We have a robust team of experts in agriculture, and we are fully prepared to support the governor’s plan for the sector,” Prof. Okolie said. He also expressed the university’s eagerness to collaborate with Texas A&M University-Kingsville, particularly in staff and student training programs focused on agricultural advancements.

Mr. Nwabueze Ubru, Commissioner for Agriculture, applauded the efforts of ESUT in complementing the state government’s agricultural vision. He praised Governor Mbah’s leadership, which has laid the groundwork for turning agriculture into a significant pillar of the state’s economy. “Governor Mbah has set out clear goals to make Enugu State an agricultural hub, and partnerships with institutions like ESUT will be key to achieving this,” Ubru stated. He further assured the university of the state’s readiness to provide the necessary resources for agricultural development, including establishing a ranch within the university’s premises.

The commissioner also emphasized the importance of collaboration between academia, government, and international institutions to drive sustainable agricultural development. “We are here to build partnerships that will not only benefit Enugu State but also elevate ESUT as a center of agricultural excellence,” he added. Ubru reiterated the government’s commitment to completing the fencing of the university by November to secure its agricultural ventures.

Dr. Ifeyinwa Nnajieze, the State Project Coordinator of the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Project (L-PRES), also praised Governor Mbah for his relentless pursuit of agricultural reforms. She noted that the governor’s focus on livestock production is a strategic move to boost food security and create employment opportunities. “The governor’s vision for livestock farming is not just about increasing production but also ensuring the sustainability and resilience of the agricultural sector in Enugu State,” Nnajieze said.

She further emphasized the critical role that ESUT can play in advancing livestock productivity through research and innovation. “With the expertise and facilities at ESUT, we can pioneer groundbreaking solutions that will enhance the productivity and resilience of the livestock sector,” she added. Dr. Nnajieze called for continued collaboration between the university, the state government, and international partners to ensure the success of the livestock productivity projects in the state.

Prof. AO Anoruo, representing Texas A&M University-Kingsville, reiterated the importance of building strong partnerships. He stressed that agricultural training programs must be sustained locally to ensure their long-term success. “This partnership offers a unique opportunity for ESUT students and staff to receive specialized training, both locally and abroad, in areas like ranch management. Texas A&M is the only university in the U.S. that offers this particular program, and we are excited to explore this collaboration further,” Prof. Anoruo stated.

The Managing Director of El Capricio Ag Consulting, USA, Professor Alphonsus Ortega, expressed his company’s readiness to contribute to the successful implementation of the agricultural projects. “We are committed to ensuring the full realization of these projects. Agriculture, when done right, has the power to transform entire communities. Our goal is to bring world-class agricultural practices to Enugu State, which will not only create jobs but also inspire a new generation of agricultural entrepreneurs,” Prof. Ortega said.

He emphasized that proper training and knowledge transfer are key to the success of the partnership. “Our objective is to bring practical, hands-on training to ESUT. This will give students and local farmers the skills they need to excel in modern agriculture,” he added. Professor Ortega also remarked on the importance of ranching as a sustainable solution to food security, stating, “The ranching initiative we are supporting will have a ripple effect, providing meat and dairy products that will reduce the state’s dependence on external suppliers.”

The Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Prof. Emeka Nzeh, also affirmed the university’s dedication to supporting the governor’s vision. “We are determined to ensure that this initiative not only benefits the state but also positions ESUT as a leader in agricultural innovation,” Prof. Nzeh stated. He further noted that the faculty is already making preparations to implement training programs in ranch management, crop production, and livestock farming.

“We are confident that the collaboration with Texas A&M will bring lasting benefits to our students and the broader community,” Prof. Nzeh added. “Our faculty is known for producing top-tier agricultural professionals, and with this partnership, we will elevate our capabilities even further.”

Among those present at the meeting were the Registrar of ESUT, Mr. Ambrose Ugwu, The University’s Bursar and Librarian, Dr. Augustine Ikechukwu Ojeh and Dr Mrs Jacinta Ezeh, the Director of ESUT Consult, Prof. Okey Orji amongst others.

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By Ikechukwu Odu, Agbani

The Consul General, German Consulate, Lagos Nigeria, Weert Borner, on Friday stated that Germany is partnering Nigeria in building renewable energy sources in order solve its energy crisis.

Borner who said that renewable energy sources are cleaner and more environmentally-friendly, called on governments and individuals to invest more on renewable energy which according to him would help in job creation along its value chain.

He made the call while delivering a public lecture titled ‘German-Nigeria Cooperation in the Global Energy Transition,’ at the capacity-filled Professor Julius Onah Auditorium, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, Agbani, Enugu State.

He further advocated for the use of gas system to replace the fuel and diesel generators to save cost and reduce carbon emissions.

“In our energy partnership with Nigeria, there are two main focuses that we have already started. One is on supporting Nigeria in building renewable energy sources, not only solar but wind, biomass and hydropower. The second one is to improve the energy grid system for Nigeria.

“Gas should be systematically used to replace the largest source of energy in Nigeria, which is the decentralized generators running on petrol or diesel. In both business and environmental terms, it is the major polluting source of energy which contributes in global warming,” he said.

Also the Governor of Enugu State, Barr. Peter Mbah, has stated that the state has keyed into the energy transition trend.

Governor Mbah who was represented in the public lecture by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Chidiebere Onyia, stated that the state has launched a geo-mapping efforts to evaluate the commercial potential of its natural gas, also stated that plans are on course to modernize its transport system, using CNG buses to replace smaller and less efficient buses in the state.

He further stated that the government would convert most vehicles in the state to become solar-powered.

While briefing newsmen after the lecture, he said “What Enugu State Government is trying to do through the policy direction of the Governor Peter Mbah , and the Enugu State Electricity Law is to open an electricity market that harnesses opportunities for investors to come in and set up generation companies. In that way, we would have generation framework that would service our people and provide the necessary energy.

“We did a preliminary energy audit and we have a projection of about 700 megawatts and current share of EEDC is less than 100 megawatts of electricity for the whole South East, that would tell you what proportion comes to Enugu. That would not meet the needs of our agro processing zone outlook and our industrial clusters and other initiatives the government is pushing.

“So, this partnership with the German Government and Enugu State helps us with both the technical capacity for our new electricity regulatory commission and other aspects towards building our economy from 4.4 billion dollars to 30 billion dollars . So this partnership is to make sure that we meet our energy needs and other economic activities in Enugu State,” he explained.

Equally, the Vice Chancellor of ESUT, Professor Aloysius-Michaels Okolie, in his opening remarks during the lecture stated that the goal of the University is to be most competitive in research, teaching and scholarship.

Professor Okolie further stated that the University has established Centres of Excellencies geared towards realizing its scholarship endeavours , adding that the University Management has installed solar energy in the students hall of residences to address water problems.

Though he said that the issue of power supply is still challenging to the University , he called for collaborations between the German universities and ESUT in knowledge transfer and exchange programmes.

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