By Amaechi Agbo

Ahead of commencement of the 2024/2025 first semester examinations on 3^rd March in ESUT, the Committee on Exams Malpractice has begun sensitization campaign of students and staff on the dangers of examinations malpractice.

The sensitization campaign which commenced on Monday, 6^th February, will last till Thursday, 27^th February across all the faculties including the College of Medicine .

The Committee began the campaign at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences on Monday before visiting Faculties of Education and Environmental Sciences on Tuesday, February 11^th.

Led by its chairman, Professor Francis Okechukwu Chikeleze, the committee advised students on the need to avoid every form of examination malpractice and urged lecturers/invigilators on the need to report any students found contravening the rules guiding the conduct of examinations in ESUT.  

Prof Chikeleze warned that lecturers who abate exam malpractice in any form, if found, would be prosecuted while students caught in the act will either be suspended or expelled depending on the severity of the offence committed.

The Chairman warned students to consider the implications of their actions if caught emphasizing that the committee would not spare anyone who runs foul of the extant regulations governing the conduct of examinations in ESUT

“Our visitation to faculties is to interact with the students and staff because you are the ones involved in the conduct of examinations. It is important for us to conduct this sensitization campaign because we don’t want anybody to run foul of the regulations guiding examinations here.

“Students are the ones usually found culpable and it is important that you are forewarned, especially the fresh students who will be taking our examinations for the first time. There are instances that would jeopardise your writing examinations here and at the end, lead to the termination of your studentship in ESUT.

“These instances are; entering examination hall with a phone. it does not matter whether the phone is on or off, you used it or not, it is an offence to enter examination hall with a phone, smart wristwatch or wearing earphones. Avoid them.

“Do not enter examination hall with any material relating to the course you are supposed to write, don’t write anything on your palms, thighs or desk. Impersonation is a taboo in ESUT. Avoid any act that could warrant your suspension or expulsion during your examinations.

“Most importantly, the rules guiding examinations are spelt out in the back-cover and front-back pages of your answer scripts. Therefore, you are mandated to go through them before you start your examinations,” he said.

Addressing the staff after the students were dispersed in the two faculties, the Chairman urged them to discharge their duties with integrity and professionalism. He warned them against abating examination malpractice, adding that “as invigilators, your duty is to provide a conducive atmosphere for these children to write the exams. We have reports that some invigilators make the exam halls tense for the students, this is not ideal. Please when you are invigilating, minimize, if not, avoid using your phones, they distract you from your duties. When you catch a student violating the ethics of examinations, please report him/her appropriately.

“We have channels of communication which starts from the invigilator, through the HOD and through the Dean of the faculties then to the Committee. Any report received by this committee, be rest assured that it would be dispassionately and speedily adjudicated.”

Staff and students who participated in the sensitization commended the Committee on Exams Malpractice saying that such move will help to eliminate if not eradicate examination irregularities.

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It was organised in collaboration with Evergreen Foundation with the theme “Igniting the Flames of Change.”

Hosted by their faculty Secretary General, Dorcas Ositadimma Ikeh, a student of Education Management Department, conceived the idea of organizing the platform of educators with the help of other prominent figures in the world of education.

She stated that the event was a milestone for the Faculty which played the key role in igniting a sense of purpose and esteem among future educators and challenged the negative societal perceptions about the teaching profession.

Dorcas Ikeh  plans to hold the event annually every May.

The Faculty’s Public Relations Officer Emmanuel Ani, noted the need for the student-teachers to be exposed to the newest trends in the educational field and having a wider network of people who they can learn from, keep in contact while building their careers as Educators and improving their communication skills.

The event was attended by many educators from different places and 200 or above students in attendance from the 10 departments of the faculty.

The guests were: The chief guest; Barr. Doris Chinedu Okoro, CEO, Evergreen Schools and also the convener, South East Schools Educators Conference (SEEC); Lady Jennifer Ekwueme; Director of Salma Private Schools; Mrs. Nneka Nnajiofor; proprietress Maryville schools; Ms. Nichole Nwaeze; Proprietress, Prudent First Child School and 8 other prominent school owners who contributed significantly in rendering their knowledge to the student-teachers.

The Faculty’s heads who were in attendance were: Associate Dean ; Prof. Chike ugwuaba, H.O.D Adult Education department, Prof. Kate Ngwu Elechi; H.O.D Education Management, Associate Prof. A. Obodo, H.O.D Science Education, Dr. J.N Ikpenwa, H.O.D Guidance and counselling and other staff of the faculty who made the conference a huge success.

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The newly elected Dean, Faculty of Education, ESUT, has disclosed that his election is a call to service.

Prof Owoh stated this in an exclusive interview with ESUT Monitor shortly after he was declared winner of the deanship election conducted in the Faculty of Education auditorium on Thursday.

Prof Owoh who is from the Department of Technology and Vocational Education defeated his closest rival, Prof Chinedu Aguba 43 to 41 votes to emerge victorious.

The Dean Elect expressed gratitude to the academic staff of the faculty for their trust adding that he will work to maintain the unity in the faculty and promote the welfare of her members at all time.

While declaring that his new position is a call for service, Prof Owoh who made history as the first person for the Technology and Vocational Education Department to be elected Dean of the faculty, said that with the election activities over, it’s time for work.

He noted that he would incorporate those who contested with him into his administration so that together they would all move the faculty forward.

“First of all, I really thank the management and faculty board and those who organised the election. It’s mature and very orderly. I see my victory as a call to duty. I am here to serve the faculty and I am glad they gave me the opportunity,” he said.

He explained his campaign strategy and the promise he made to the faculty that gave him their mandate

“I went round, I met the lecturers, though not all and I understood the problems of the faculty. I promised them, that in affiliation with the centre, we will alleviate the problems.

“The key promise I made is improvement and maintenance of academic excellence. That is the basic call we are here. So academic excellence will be sustained.

Prof Owoh recognized the leadership ingenuity of those who contested with him and the need to establish synergy and declared that his administration will be inclusive.

“I will include those who contested with me in my administration, it is going to be an inclusive leadership. They have their own ideas and that is why they wanted to be Dean so, we will put heads together to improve our faculty,” he concluded.

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…Faculties of Law, Social Sciences, Management Sciences, Others Elected Unopposed

By Amaechi Agbo and Onyekachi Agu, Agbani

Professor Titus Owoh on Thursday emerged the new dean of Faculty of Education in ESUT, even as Prof Emenike Augusta lost her bid to retain her deanship position in Faculty of Environmental Sciences.

Prof Owoh saw of rival, Prof Chinedu Aguba as well as Prof Chinwe Chibuike to clinch the position in education.

In a hugely contested election held at the faculty auditorium with 90 voters, Prof Owoh of Department of Technology and Vocational Education, emerged winner with 43 votes. His closest rival, Prof Aguba got 41 votes while Prof Chibuike had 6 votes for his efforts.

At the Faculty of Environmental Sciences, the race was between incumbent dean, Prof Emenike Augusta and Prof Edmond Iyi.

Like what transpired in Nigeria’s 2015 generation election where an incumbent president, Goodluck Jonathan was defeated by Muhammadu Buhari, Prof Emenike lost the position to her rival, Prof Iyi.

Prof Iyi had a total of 24 votes to upstage his opponent, Prof Emenike who got 14 votes.

Election at the Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, saw the Director of Research, Prof Emeka Nze emerged winner.

Professor Nze’s emergency came after his rival, Prof Okoye stood down for him.

In the newly created Faculties of Biological Sciences and Physical Sciences, Professors E.O. Ogu and G.Z. Ugwu were elected pioneer deans, respectively.

In the Biological Sciences, Prof Ogu got 14 votes to see off competition from Prof H.O. Nwamba who had 4 votes. In the Physical Sciences, 25 votes polled by Prof G.Z. Ugwu were enough to secure the position for him against Prof Nnamebi who got 16 votes. In the build up to the election, Prof Ugwuoke stepped down for Prof Ugwu.

The deanship position at the Faculty of Engineering was hugely contested by two professors, Prof Thompson Chime and Prof Ebere Ameh. The results of the election showed that Prof Chime polled 45 votes to defeat Prof Ameh who had 33 votes.

Faculties of Law, Social Sciences and Humanities as well as Management Sciences had their deans elected unopposed.

Prof Ortuanya of Law had his seat preserved for him same as Prof Nicholas Attamah of Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities.
Prof Uche Ugwuanyi was unanimously elected, unopposed, as Dean, Faculty of Management Sciences.

Also elected as a sole candidate is Prof Umezurike Hughes Okafor of Faculty of Clinical Medicine as well as Dr Ozor Ignatius of Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences

Interestingly, the elections were unable to produce a female dean, this in contrast to at least three female deans that were elected during the 2022 deanship elections.

ESUT Monitor can authoritatively report that the elections of the new deans in 12 out of 13 Faculties in the university were peaceful and resulted generally accepted by all including those who lost their elections.

Speaking with ESUT Monitor on the conduct of the election at Faculty of Education, Prof Martins Anikwe who represented the Vice-Chancellor and superintended over the election said it was democracy in action.

Describing the Faculty of Education election as a tight race, the former Commissioner for Agriculture in Enugu State said the majority spoke which is the beauty of democracy.

“We have witnessed democracy here. The Dean Elect won with just two votes ahead of his closest opponent and that is the beauty of democracy. It was transparently conducted in an orderly manner and all the voters and candidates conducted themselves very well.

“To me, the only winner is the faculty. They should unite and move the faculty ahead. The time of election is over, it is now time to work. We are happy with the outcome of the election here, we will now go and write our report and submit to the management,” he said.

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