Enugu Agbani – Two DISTINGUSHED PROFESSORS, Ifeoma Okwor and Okechukwu Oji have been elected the Senate Representatives at the ESUT Governing Council.

They were both elected at the floor of the University Senate during its 274 Regular Meeting on Wednesday. Prof Okwor is the current Dean Student Affairs while Prof Oji is the Director, ESUT Consultancy Service Limited.

Although four persons initially submitted their expression of Interest forms to contest for the available two positions, ESUT Monitor gathered that in the build up to the polls, Prof Mike Anyanwuokoro, Director of Admissions stepped down from the race. Leaving Professors Okwor, Oji and Anthonia Egbo to test their mights in the poll.

At the end of voting, the Dean of Student Affairs, DISTINGUISHED Professor Ifeoma Okwor got a total of 195 Votes to clinch one of the two seats while the Director of ESUT Consult Limited, DINSTINGUSHED Professor Okechukwu Oji had 164 votes to pick the second seat.

Professor Egbo got 67 votes to her name to emerge third.

The election which was conducted via secret balloting was transparently overseen and fairly delivered by the Electoral Committee chaired by Professor Mike Anyanwuokoro. Prof Anyanwuokoro was chosen by the three candidates to head the three-man electoral committee.

Addressing the winners, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Aloyisus Michaels Okolie commended the candidates for their maturity and the congress for the trust reposed on the both Professors.

The VC charged them to be active in the Council so as to help in transforming the university.

Profs Okwor, Oji React…

Speaking to our correspondent shortly after they were elected Council Members, Professor Ifeoma Okwo and Okey Oji shared their aspirations with us.

First to speak was the Dean of Student Affairs who described her election as a clarion call to serve. She noted that as a Council Member, she will bring her wealth of experience to bear in policy implementation for the growth of the university.

“I am delighted to be giving this honour, to represent the Senate at the University Governing Council. I am honoured and want to thank my fellow senators for this. The Council is a bridge between the management and the Government and it is my utmost objective to contribute in this regard particularly in promoting the core values of the founding fathers of the university.”

On his part, Prof Oji said that his election will help him to bring his expertise on the table in elevating the university to greater heights.

“Being a Council rep member means a lot to me. I yearned for it and decided to elevate the contributions I have been making in ESUT. By being a Council member, I will be closer to the Government and ensure that we bring dividends that will project ESUT to greater height. I hope to consolidate on the relationship between the staff and the government, and between the staff and management,” he said.

The Council Rep Members are expected to serve in their capacities for two years commencing from the date of inauguration.

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President Bola Tinubu has appointed Bishop Matthew Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, Kaduna State.

Additionally, the President appointed principal officers for the university, including Prof. Qurix Williams Barnabas as Vice Chancellor, Sanusi Gambo Adamu as Registrar, Ibrahim Dalhat as bursar, and Prof. Daniel Abubakar as university Librarian.

President Tinubu also approved the appointment of Mr Thomas Etuh, representing the North Central, Chief Fabian Nwaora (South East), Prof Femi Taiwo (South West) and Zarah Bukar (North East). as members of the university’s Governing Council.

All the appointees were carefully selected based on their distinguished careers, leadership experience, and dedication to advancing education in Nigeria.

President Tinubu implored them to use their collective expertise to position the university as a hub for academic excellence and research, aligning with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

President Tinubu urged the newly appointed officers to provide visionary leadership and lay a solid foundation for the university’s growth as it prepares to admit its first cohort of students in September 2025.

The Federal University of Applied Sciences was formerly known as Nok University. It was renamed following the federal government’s takeover of its assets.

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The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU – the umbrella body of the teaching staff of Nigerian public universities – has threatened a nationwide strike next week should the federal government fails to yield to their recent demands

The union hinged it latest threat on the failure of the Federal Government to appoint Governing Councils for Federal Universities in the country. There are 111 federal universities across the federation.

Speaking in a media chat, President of the union, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke noted that it has given the Tinubu-led government enough time to correct the errors.

Osodeke noted that the union was also concerned over the failure of the Federal Government to appoint members of Governing Councils for Federal owned universities stressing that the dissolution of the governing councils was illegal as it was against the principles guiding the existing universities.

The union also faulted what it described as the nonchalant attitude of the President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government to matters pertaining to academics in Nigerian Federal Universities.

During the press briefing at the University of Abuja, ASUU also faulted the 35 per cent salary increment for professors and the 25 per cent salary increment for other academics in the university system.

The body said it saw the increment as a wage award that could be withdrawn by the government anytime it deems fit.

It could be recalled that the National Universities Commission had, on June 22, 2023, announced the dissolution of governing councils of all federal universities and boards of other agencies and parastatals in the country.

The NUC directive was based on a similar one three days earlier by President Bola Tinubu ordering the dissolution of the boards of all government parastatals, agencies and companies.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, says it will reconvene in two weeks for the next line of action, should its demands remain unattended to.

ASUU is demanding immediate reconstitution of university governing boards, stoppage of alleged illegalities and violations of university autonomy, and payment of the minimum wage.

At a press briefing in Abuja, ASUU President, Emmanuel Osodeke, said it rejects the unhealthy face-off with union leaders by vice chancellors.

A few federal university branches of ASUU are currently on strike, following moves by their vice-chancellors to elect their successors, without governing boards, which are mandated for that.

Although the federal government immediately reconstituted the boards of the governing councils of the 111 universities with 555 members, it remains to be seen if ASUU would go ahead with the proposed strike when the union meets next week.

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The President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of an erudite professor in ESUT, Professor Chinweuba Owo as the Pro-Chancellor/Chairman, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Governing Council.

Prof Owo’s appointment is contained in the list of 555 board members for 111 federal Universities’ Pro-Chancellors/ Governing Council Chairmen, Board members, among others approved by the President on Saturday

A statement from the presidency says the inauguration and retreat for the Governing Councils will take place on Thursday, May 30 and Friday, May 31, 2024, at the National Universities Commission, 26 Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja. Both events will commence at 9:00am daily.

According to the Ministry of Education in an advertorial signed by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, President Tunubu gave the approval of the pro-chancellors and chairmen of the Governing Board of universities, polytechnic and colleges of education.

Others in the appointments include former Ebonyi State Governor, Chief Martin Elech, as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Board of Federal University, Dutse, Jigawa State.

A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, was named the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Board of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State.

For the University of Calabar, Cross River State, President Tinubu appointed a former Governor of Adamawa State, Bala Ngalari, as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Board.

Tinubu appointed a former Governor of Bauchi State, Isa Yuguda, as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Open University of Nigeria. Members are Mrs Betty Efekodah, Bawuro Bapetel Yahaya, Dr. Gidado Bello Kumo and Mr Bola Akinola

A former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, was also appointed as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Board of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Sokoto State, amog others

Chiweuba Owo is a professor of Sociology in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT.

Professor Owo who hails from Nkanu East Local Government of Enugu State, is expected to bring his wealth of experience in overseeing the affairs of the 13-year old Federal University.

Brief Profile of Alex Ekwueme Federal University – AE-FUNAI

Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State, Nigeria, formerly Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (FUNAI) was established by the Federal Government on February 26th, 2011 with the mandate of expanding and improving access to quality tertiary education to every part of Nigeria.

The university however, started academic activities on 5th November, 2012, and was officially renamed by the Federal Government after the late civilian Vice President of Nigeria, Dr. Alex Ekwueme on 2nd February, 2018.

Geographically located on latitude 060 8.29’ N, Longitude 080 8.627’E and Altitude 55m (AMSL), AE-FUNAI is sited in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State which is about 25 kilometers from Abakaliki, the State capital.

The University prides itself as the ‘Home of Soaring Eagles’ that offers students excellent learning opportunities, informed by up-to-date research and facilitated by highly qualified and motivated workforce, with multi-media class rooms, well stocked modern libraries and well equipped laboratories for practical sessions in a serene learning environment.

It aspires to be a world-class University recognized for the delivery of intellectually rigorous, cutting edge research and excellent teaching and learning experience, geared towards the production of graduates with the relevant hands-on, sellable and employability skills to soar in their chosen careers. Students are offered a wealth of academic choices together with articulation and mobility across the qualifications spectrum ranging from certificates to diplomas and degrees.

The University currently has 11 Faculties – Agriculture, Basic Medical Sciences, Biological Science, Education, Engineering and Technology, Environmental Science, Humanities, Management Sciences, Social Sciences and Physical Sciences accommodating 41 academic departments and 57 programmes, with over 10, 000 students and 2, 230 staff population respectively.

The university has also established a College of Medicine and a School of Postgraduate Studies to expand the frontiers of knowledge.

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By Udeigwe Chidera, Joseph Joy, Onyinyechi Eze, Chika Ogechi and Chioma Nworie

Today the University Registrar, Chief Ambrose George Ugwu marks his 62nd Birthday as well as two years anniversary in office as the Chief Scribe of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT

Born over six decades ago, Mr Ugwu on February 10 officially replaced Barr. Tobias M. Ikpenwa as the ESUT Registrar following his appointment by the Governing Council. on February 4th, 2022

A very experienced hand in University Administration, Mr. Ugwu has spent over 31 years as a Senior Administrative Staff and has served in different units ranging from Admissions, Records. Establishment, Student Affairs. Faculties and the like. He has also served severally as Chairman, Secretary or member of a number of sensitive committees of the university including Roadmap Committee, Ceremonials Committee, Committee on Review Of ESI_JT condition of service etc. Currently, he is the National Treasurer of ESUT Alumni Association.

He has attended many local and international trainings, workshops and conferences. Mr. ugwu recently bagged a certificate on policy strategy and leadership course at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) – Kuru Jos – Plateau State.
He is happily married with children,

Ahead of His 62nd Birthday today, our Birthday baby, Chief Ambrose George Ugwu granted ESUT Monitor Exclusive Interview on his achievements after two years in office, challenges and Motivation.

How Has It Been Since You Assumed Office As Registrar?

You know I applied for this job so I don’t have any reason to complain that the job is very stressful or tiring. It’s a job that I enjoy and I think you can never see me having an ugly face. I am always smiling because I derive joy from what I am doing and I am happy that people are happy with what I am doing. I am adding more glamour, whatever thing I have within me to ensure that the university which is my Alma mater moves forward.

Are There Any challenges?
The challenges are that, there are ways you plan to do your own work and your subordinates may not understand your ways of work. For me I make sure to leave my office as if it’s the last day. The biggest challenge is that it is not easy traveling from Enugu to Agbani, you might have your programme of activities for the day only to be disorganised by the people waiting for you or by other things. Most of the times I leave the office 6pm, but then when you notice that the people, you’re doing this for are happy, you will be happy. I thank God for health, because this job is not something you can do if you’re not healthy but it’s all thanks to God that I have gotten to the zenith of my profession.

What Would You Be Remembered For After Your Time In Office?

It’s still too far, but if you look at the pictures, you’ll notice our former registrars. I want my own picture to be there so once someone enters the office he will say “ah if it where the time of so and so, this case would have been different”. It’s people that will say this is how you performed not you, it’s always difficult to rate yourself but if people rate you, you’ll be glad because they will bring out so many things about you that you don’t know. I thank God that within me I say I want to be remembered as one of the people that moved ESUT forward.

After The Day’s Hectic Works, How Do You Relax Sir?

Well, it’s not all that easy. When I go home everything concerning the university drop it there some other person is in charge at home. But then one thing that gives me joy, immediately I go home I eat, take my bath and sleep. I have not watched TV for a whole year. If I leave office by 6pm, how will I relax at home to watch television?

What Are Your Hobbies?
I love reading. I love taking a morning stroll and then again, I love having chat with people. Those give me joy. I enjoy going through the ESUT Monitor Newspaper, so all these things are to improve in what am doing.

What Motivates You Sir?
What motivates me is that people derive joy in what I do and I derive joy too no matter what I do, if you’re in need of two naira and I have three naira I’ll give you. Once I give it to you it will take 24 hours before I get double of it. It is God’s gift.

Where Would You Be By March 2027?
We have to pray to be alive till then. But I think one good thing is that I am a child of destiny. If I leave office 10th February 2027, by 14th I’ll be retiring from the active service. I’ll be 65 years by then. Knowing that I am still looking young even though I am old, by the grace of God, he will place me fine, because you know, man proposes but God disposes.

From all of us at the ESUT Monitor Newspaper, published by the Department of Mass Communication, we wish you more wisdom and strength in your new year. Happy 62 Cheers.

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