In an effort to encourage Professors to deliver their Inaugural Lectures, the management of Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) has announced an endowment of N1.5 million support to Inaugural Lecturers.

The Vice Chancellor, Professor Aloysius Michaels Okolie who dropped the cheering news to the university community on Thursday during the 44^th Inaugural Lecture of the university, said the gesture is aimed at motivating the professors to see the need to present their inaugural lecture.

 Professor Okolie made the disclosure while presenting his welcome addressing during the 44^th Inaugural Lecture delivered by erudite Professor of Communication, Professor Linus Iloegbunam Ogbushi held at the Barr Ndubuisi Mbah Audtitorium. He noted that the gesture comprises N1, 000, 000 donation from the Chairman of the University Governing Council, Chief Chinyeaka Ohaa, and additional N500, 000 from a member of the Council, Engr. Dr. Innocent Akuvue.

“Inaugural lecture announces a professor’s arrival within the academics. You can be promoted as a professor but if you retire without doing inaugural lecture, you will be a retiring salary earning professor. But if you have delivered your inaugural lecture, you will now be classified as a Distinguished Professor of that University. Whatever manifest in a professor not doing inaugural lecture manifests in what the person tells the public. If you don’t have anything to tell the public, please don’t present inaugural lecture.

“We are so glad today that we are already moving so fast. Now that we have 44^th – 45^th and 46^th  – are already waiting for the dates to come. Our prayer is that this year we must move beyond 50. ESUT is over 30 years. By the end of the year, we must hit 50 or beyond.

“As a way of encouraging professors to present inaugural lecture, management has been releasing N850, 000 to the inaugural lecturers to aid the production and process. The Chairman of Council in the last Council meeting affirmed that thenceforth he will be giving N1, 000 000 to each inaugural lecturer. As a mark of support to the Chairman, Sir Engr. I.I. Akuve added N500, 000. That means N1.5 million. So going forward, every inaugural lecturer, including the last one and today’s, will receive N1.5 million from the fund. Even if you don’t want to present your inaugural lecture, let this fund attract you to make your presentation,” the VC said.

Highlights of the inaugural lecture were presentation of certificate, award and 50 copies of the Lecture to the Inaugural lecturer, Professor Linus Ogbuoshi, as well as public presentation of a book written by the Lecturer.

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The Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) on Friday held its 44th matriculation ceremony, with the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Aloysius-Michaels Okolie, delivering a significant address to the newly admitted students.

The event, held at the university’s main campus, was a celebration of academic excellence, innovation, and the institution’s commitment to infrastructural development.

In his keynote speech, Professor Okolie highlighted the introduction of several newly established courses designed to meet the evolving demands of the global workforce. These programs include Biomedical Engineering, Public Health, Radiography, and Human Nutrition and Dietetics, among others. The Vice-Chancellor emphasized that these courses were carefully curated to equip students with cutting-edge knowledge and skills, positioning them as leaders in their respective fields.

“The introduction of these programs reflects our commitment to staying at the forefront of science and technology education. We are preparing our students to tackle contemporary challenges and contribute meaningfully to society,” Professor Okolie stated.

The Vice-Chancellor also took the opportunity to showcase the university’s remarkable progress in infrastructure development. He announced the near-completion and imminent commissioning of several abandoned projects, including the largest Pharmacy Building in West Africa, a state-of-the-art Entrepreneurship Building, a 500-capacity ICT Center, and the ESUT Printing Press. These projects, he noted, are part of the university’s broader vision to create a conducive learning environment and foster innovation.

“In a few months, these facilities will be fully operational, further enhancing our capacity to deliver world-class education and research. We are committed to providing our students with the tools they need to succeed,” he added.

While celebrating these achievements, Professor Okolie issued a stern warning to the newly admitted students against engaging in cultism, examination malpractice, and other forms of misconduct. He reiterated the university’s zero-tolerance policy, emphasizing that such actions would result in outright expulsion.

“Let me be clear: ESUT has no place for cultism, examination malpractice, or any form of indiscipline. The consequences are severe, and we will not hesitate to take decisive action. Your primary goal here is to learn, grow, and prepare for a successful future,” he cautioned.

The Vice-Chancellor urged the students to take full advantage of the opportunities available at ESUT, including its robust academic programs, modern facilities, and vibrant campus life. He also encouraged them to uphold the values of integrity, hard work, and excellence throughout their academic journey.

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The Vice Chancellor of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, Professor Aloysius-Michaels Okolie, has warned fresh students admitted into the institution in the 2024/2025 academic session to desist from cult-related activities to avoid expulsion from the University.

The Vice Chancellor equally told the fresh students that they would be rusticated from the university if caught in examination malpractices.

He made the remarks in his opening address during an orientation programme organized by the Management of the University in collaboration with the Students’ Union Government, SUG, at the Barr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah Multi-purpose Hall, ESUT, Agbani, on Wednesday.

“If you are caught in cult-related activities, the University Management will dismiss you and hand you over to the police for further actions. I want you to know that examination malpractices is equally an offence which can send you out of the University if you are caught indulging in it. The Management will equally expell you and hand you over to the police. ESUT Management has zero-tolerance for these vices,” he said.

While congratulating the students for gaining admission into the University, he advised them to schedule their activities properly to be balanced students.

Other principal officers and key functionaries of the University, including the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor, Chike Nwoha; ESUT Registrar, Ambrose Ugwu; ESUT Bursar, Dr. Austin Ojeh; ESUT Librarian, Dr. Ukamaka Eze; and the Dean of Students’ Affairs, Professor Mary Okwor, took the fresh students on different ways to navigate successfully from the university at a record time.

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Agbani – The member, representing Nkanu East/Nkanu West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon.Pharm. Nnolim Nnaji, on Friday, donated 50 solar street lights to ESUT.

Apart from providing security, the street lights will also enhance adequate lighting of newly built Barr Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah Multi-purpose Auditorium in ESUT.

He said that the gesture aimed at showing solidarity and support to the Governor’s commendable service delivery in the state, was equally geared towards promoting research and conducive learning environment in the University.

Hon. Nnaji, who was represented by his Special Assistant on Special Duties, Darlington Maduka Nnajifor during the presentation at the Multiple Purpose Auditorium, added that ESUT community being part of his constituents deserve to benefit from the dividends of democracy accruing to the electorates.

While thanking the lawmaker for the donation, the Vice Chancellor of ESUT, Professor Aloysius-Michaels Okolie, lauded the harmonious working relationship between the Enugu State Governor, Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah and the lawmaker.

The Vice Chancellor also used the opportunity to commend Hon. Nnaji for his commitment in empowering his constituents through different projects and donations to boost health, agriculture and life generally.

While stating that ESUT is still encumbered by energy crisis and reticulation of boreholes in the University, he called on other stakeholders to collaborate with the university to address some of its challenges.

“We are seizing this opportunity to call on other stakeholders to support Governor Peter Mbah in making sure that this Hall becomes a world-class Hall. The governor would be happy that he has a team that is helping and contributing their quota to move this university forward,” he said.

In his vote-of-thanks, the Deputy Vice Chancellor of ESUT, Professor Chike Nwoha, called on other key functionaries of the University to attract more stakeholders to help in addressing the challenges of the University.

He lauded the lawmaker for his generosity and urged him to always extend hands of fellowship to the University.

Present at the ceremony were the Principal Officers of the University,Deans of Faculties, and some Directors including the Director of Physical Planning, Prof. Frank Iloeje, who was seen supervising and directing the mounting of the street lights.

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The Vice Chancellor of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, Professor Aloysius-Michaels Okolie, on Wednesday, inaugurated the committee on the implementation of the new minimum wage.

While inaugurating the committee in his office, in Agbani, Enugu State, he explained that the committee became necessary following the directive of the state Commissioner of Education, Prof. Ndubueze Mbah, to collate relevant data and work out modalities for implementation of the N80,000 minimum wage as approved by the Governor of the state, Barr. Ndubuisi Mbah.

The committee which was headed by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor Chike Nwoha, was given the following terms of references:

“To collate data from sister State universities in the South East and two federal universities from the zone on the implementation plan, including pattern of consequential adjustments.

“To determine workable strategies for implementing the new minimum wage for ESUT workers.

“To develop a template for presenting the findings to His Excellency for adjustments in the monthly subvention paid by the Government.

“To advise on other measures for liquidating other outstanding debts owed to ESUT workers.”

Other members of the committee include the ESUT Registrar, Ambrose Ugwu; ESUT Bursar, Dr. Austin Ojeh; ESUT ASUU chairman, Professor Emeka Nnamani; ESUT SSANU Acting chairman, Mr. Ikechukwu Ezeanioma.

The rest include, ESUT NASU chairman, Cosmas Aja; ESUT NAAT chairman, Mrs. Antonia Onyia; and the Deputy Registrar- Establishment, Victor Nwachukwu who would serve as the secretary of the committee.

In his post inauguration remarks, the Chairman of the Committee, Professor Nwoha, thanked the Vice Chancellor for finding them worthy to serve.

Though he said that the responsibility was tasking, he assured that given the capacities of the members of the committee, they would not fail to deliver on their mandates.

The committee has two weeks to submit its report.

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The Vice-Chancellor, ESUT, Professor Aloysius-Michaels Okolie has disclosed one major achievement the management wishes to achieve this year.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with ESUT Monitor in his office recently where the VC x-rayed his key achievements in 2024, he disclosed the management’s major target in the New Year which is ensuring that all programmes in the university gets accredited

“What we want to achieve this year is full accreditation of all programmes, including Law. It’s not by talking; we have done our work for accreditation and giving a good environment. His Excellency has been very supportive. Last year we achieved over 97% accreditation, this year we are targeting 100%,” the VC said.

Prof Okie noted that what the management needs from the staff and students us maximum support to bring to bear the plans for the year

“What we need from the staff and students is support and understanding. As students, we can change the narrative. While we are having new programmes approved, we must ensure that others are running optimally.
“

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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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The Head, Department of Mass Communication, ESUT, Barr Dr Chidiebere Ezinwa has on behalf of the Editorial Board of the ESUT Monitor Newspaper, expressed gratitude to the readers of the University’s flagship newspaper, the management and entire university community for their sustained readership and support in the outgoing year.

The HOD who disclosed this in his Christmas and New Year message on Wednesday, expressed gratitude to the student-reporters and all who are working tirelessly particularly behind the scene to sustain the ESUT Monitor Newspaper.

Dr Ezinwa acknowledged that without the expanding readership of the newspaper and unquenchable support from the management, the ESUT Monitor Newspaper (EMN) wouldn’t have attained its status as “the authoritative voice of the university community”

“On behalf of EMN, the HOD, Mass Communication Department extends his gratitude to our numerous readers, staff, students and entire management of Enugu State University of Science and Technology for their kind support to EMN which accounts for its gradual growth from strength to strength.

“We thank you immensely and will never relent in our efforts to serve you better as we look forward to further expansion in the coming year,” he said.

He further expressed his thankfulness to the board of the department, staff, colleagues and students for their steadfastness in ensuring that the quest to reposition the department is yielding desired results and also thanked the university management for the restoration of the ESUT Radio.

“We have been on a journey to reposition the department and make it the best not just in the faculty but in the university. This destination, though still a work in progress, have already achieved measurable targets which wouldn’t have been recorded without the maximum support of the Departmental Board, my colleagues/staff and the students who work collaboratively to ensure that we are pushing to attain our targets.

“Most importantly, I want to appreciate the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Aloysius-Michaels Okolie and his team in ensuring the restoration of our radio station, ESUT Radio, 106.5FM.

“The restoration of the radio station, ESUT Monitor Newspaper and other activities geared at giving the students first-hand experience in journalism aligns with the vision of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Enugu State, Barr Dr Peter Ndubisi Mbah on the need for enthronement of Experiential Learning in our curriculum.

“With your continued support, we hope to take over the airwave and regain our position as the best campus radio station East of the Niger and beyond.

“While we are grateful to all for the support in the outgoing year, it is our firm hope that the New Year would be better.”

He also acknowledged the support of the Dean Faculty of Management Sciences, Prof Uche Ugwuanyi who while as the Director of Entrepreneurship Development Centre, EDC, identified with ESUT Monitor and has consolidated it as the Dean of faculty.

“Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a prosperous new year,” Barr Dr Chidiebere Ezinwa said.

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Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has expressed satisfaction with the speedy transformation of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, which is fast restoring the institution’s glory as a centre of excellence.

Mbah spoke at the 20th Convocation Ceremony of ESUT at Agbani where he was also conferred with an Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration and Corporate Governance at the weekend.

The governor announced his administration’s plan to build a Centre for Experiential Learning in ESUT to boost innovation as well as a N50m grant to Prof Cyprian Mgbachi, who stunned the world with the invention of a cooking stove cell phone battery charger, to perfect his technology, while also promising support to other innovators he identified in the university.

This was even as the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Aloysius-Michaels Okolie, announced the graduation of 8,437 students of the institution with First, Post-graduate, Master’s and Doctorate Degrees, noting that nine students made 1st Class.

He also said 97 per cent of ESUT programmes had been accredited through the huge investments of Mbah’s Administration in the education sector.

In the words of Governor Mbah, “Indeed, I saw technology deployed in the cause of service as I toured an exhibition pavilion showcasing a diverse range of products from biotechnology to pharmacology.

“Universities are meant to spur technological advancement. It is in line with this philosophy that I announced a new policy requiring all state-owned tertiary institutions in Enugu State to henceforth deliver Experiential Learning to our students. This change will reflect in planning, budget, curriculum reform, assessment and promotions, as well as research.

“We are also committing substantial funds for research purposes next year. These would be made available to state-owned tertiary institutions.

“We have committed over N1.6 billion to carry out structural expansion at ESUT to compensate for the space constraints at Park Lane.

“We have equally provided funds worth hundreds of millions to this institution for various programmes, including the letting up a multi-purpose laboratory at the College of Medicine, water reticulation at the College of Medicine, rehabilitation of Anatomy building at the College of Medicine, procurement of equipment for re-accreditation of Nursing Sciences, Pharmacy and Medical Laboratory Sciences and procurement of equipment for resource verification of Public Health, Radiography, Human Nutrition and Dietetics as well as Biomedical Engineering in addition to other major interventions to transform the institution.

“We would be setting up a Centre for Experiential Learning here. It would be an experiential hub where professors will be wholly immersed in Experiential Learning, which would be passed on to their students,” Mbah said.

He urged the graduates to continually pursue excellence, keep pace with technology, and never severe links with the university.

“It is expected that ESUT will continually serve as a conveyor belt for the manpower necessary for the transformation envisaged in our society, from health to engineering, ICT, agriculture, etc.,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, according to the Vice Chancellor, 6,940 bagged First Degree certificates, 335 Post-Graduate Diplomas, 798 Master’s Degree certificates, while 364 received Ph.D Degrees.

Governor Mbah, who is the founder of Pinnacle Oil and Gas, the foremost company in Nigeria’s downstream oil and gas subsector, bagged an Honorary Doctoral Award in Business Administration and Corporate Governance, while Mr. Bernd Bergmair, an Austrian and a global investor with proven credential of integrity also received an Honorary Doctoral Award in Business Administration. This marks the first time a foreigner is receiving ESUT’s honorary doctorate degree.

According to Prof Okolie, Osita Tracy Ezinne of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences emerged the overall best graduating student with 4.88 CGPA, while Chukwudebe Pearl Ewere of Faculty of Biological Sciences and Odoeme Ogechi Eunice of Faculty of Environmental Sciences emerged as the second and third overall best graduating students, respectively.

Prof. Okolie explained that the university’s programmes were now oversubscribed, given the accreditation of virtually all the programmes of the university by the National Universities Commission, improved study environment and huge investment in resources through the support of the Mbah Administration, in addition to timely completion of programmes.

“I am pleased to inform you that 97 per cent of all programmes in ESUT have full NUC Accreditation. The allotted quota for most of the professional courses have been quadrupled and additional faculties mounted,” he said.

The highlight of the convocation also included the additional support in the sum of N52m for Prof Mgbachi from Mr Bergmair, making it N102m total sum received by the inventor.

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