By Amaechi Agbo

The past two years in the Department of Industrial Physics, ESUT, under the headship of Dr Chima Iheanyichukwu, were transformational.

Serving as the Head of the Department of Industrial Physics at Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) from 2024 to 2026 has been both an absolute privilege and a deeply rewarding experience.

His stewardship follows a long foundation of service; between 2010 and 2024, he was privileged to work closely under three distinguished predecessors: Professor Ugwoke (2010–2015), Professor Onyia (2016–2020), and Professor Nnabuchi (2020–2024). The invaluable institutional insights gained from serving the academic leaders contributed immensely to the successes recorded during his two-year tenure.

Over the past two years, the Department underwent a massive transformation in its student demographics and physical infrastructure to support a rapidly expanding academic community.

Through deliberate repositioning, the undergraduate student population skyrocketed from fewer than 50 students in 2024 to over 200. Similarly, postgraduate enrollment witnessed a significant surge, growing from just 10 students to more than 50. To accommodate the burgeoning student population and fix urgent structural needs, the administration executed several infrastructure interventions;

Reconstructed over 80 classroom seats to support the growing student populace, made possible through the swift backing of the Faculty Dean.

Under Dr Chima, the department successfully reroofed a major section of the Postgraduate (PG) classroom following severe storm damage in April 2025. He aslo attracted a key sponsorship from distinguished alumnus Dr. Patrick Otiji to fully furnish the PG classroom, which was officially commissioned by the Vice-Chancellor on April 15, 2025.

He further attracted an alumni grant to completely rewire the Department and procure a brand-new Fireman Eco 4990ES generator, ensuring a reliable power supply for departmental activities.

Bridging the gap between rigorous classroom theory and industrial application was a central pillar of Chima’s 2024–2026 agenda. Through external funding, academic publishing, and landmark institutional partnerships, the Department’s visibility expanded exponentially. During the Year One student orientation on November 18, 2025, the Department secured a ₦1,000,000 donation from Dr. Patrick Otiji. The generous fund allocated ₦500,000 to cover the operational costs of hosting the programme, while the remaining ₦500,000 was distributed directly as welfare grants to the first 100 freshmen in attendance.

He facilitated and signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Abuja, and ESUT on November 13, 2025. The MoU gave birth to  building of a multi-billion naira project to ESUT—the establishment of the Advanced High Energy Cosmic Ray Laboratory by NASRDA in November 2025.

For the first time in the history of the department and in the South East region of the country, Dr Chima through hosted the 15th Annual Conference of the Astronomical Society of Nigeria (ASN) from November 11–15, 2025. This historic event made ESUT the first university in the entire Southeast region to host the conference.

This mileage was swiftly followed by securing funding to sponsor selected undergraduate and postgraduate students to attend the Nigerian Institute of Physics conference at Rivers State University (May 12–15, 2025), fully covering their transit, feeding, registration, and four nights of hotel accommodations.

Furthermore, the past twenty-four months witnessed three separate industrial excursions to give students practical workplace exposure. Additionally, under the new Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS) guidelines, the Department authored two new textbooks and successfully reviewed four existing titles.

On September 1 2026, `Dr Chima handed over to his predecessor with renewed commitment to support his administration at all times and expressed gratitude to the university management, staff and student of the department for their support during his tenure.

“This successful journey would not have been possible without collective effort. I extend my profound gratitude to our visionary Vice-Chancellor for the privilege to serve under his watch. My deepest thanks also go to the Dean of the Faculty, Professor Gabriel Ugwu, and to my esteemed departmental colleagues—most notably the senior Professors who, despite differences in age brackets, extended immense patience, commitment, and wisdom to my administration. My dedication to this institution remains unchanged. I stand fully ready to assist the new leadership in any capacity required.

“It is my distinct honor to formally hand over the leadership of the Department of Industrial Physics to my successor, Dr. Nwobodo Anthonia. I wish her a remarkably successful, peaceful, and productive tenure as she takes the Department to even greater heights.”

DuriDr Chima’s stewardship as Department of Industrial Physics in summary:

1. Increased the total number of undergraduate students from less than 50 in 2024 to over 200 students and number of postgraduate students also increase from 10 to over 50.
2. Reconstruction of over 80 seats for student use due to increase in students’ populations with the support of the Dean.
3. Attracted a grant of five hundred thousand  naira only(500,000) during the orientation of year one students which was given to first 100 student that attended the orientation program on 18^th November 2025 and another 500,000 for hosting of the programe all donated by Dr Patrick Otiji whose is an alumnus of the Department.
4. Reroofed a section of Postgraduate (PG) class destroyed by rains in April 2025
5. Attracted the furnishing of PG class by an Alumnus of the Department (Dr Patrick Otiji) which was commission by Vice chancellor on 15^th April 2025.
6. Rewired the Department and bought a brand-new Fireman Eco 4990ES generator to power the Department with a grant attracted by another alumnus of the Department.
7. Attracted funds and sponsored some selected undergraduate and postgraduate student to attend Nigerian Institute of  Physics conference in River State University from 12^th to 15^th of May 2025 (this covers transportation, hotel accommodation for four nights, feeding and registration).
8. Attracted the signing of MOU between Nigerian Space Research Development Agency Abuja and ESUT on 13^th November,2025.
9. Hosted 15^th Annual Conference of Astronomical Society of Nigerian from 11^th to 15^th of November 2025.ESUT became the first university to host this conference in Southeast.
10. Attracted a multibillion project to ESUT which is the establishment of the Advanced High Energy Cosmic Ray Lab by Nigerian Space Research and Development Agency Abuja in November 2025.
11. Embarked on three different excursions to close the gap between classroom learning with the industry experience.
12. Under my watch two new books were written by the Department and four books reviewed according to CCMAS.
13. Facilitated partnerships with industry stakeholders, enhancing students’ practical exposure and employability.

These efforts have collectively contributed to the growth and visibility of the Department of Industrial Physics within and beyond the institution.

The post From Classroom to Cosmos: Dr. Chima’s 24-month Transformation of Industrial Physics at ESUT appeared first on ESUT Monitor.

This collaboration which is hinged on the need to use homegrown solutions to guarantee sustainable development in our country, would deepen indigenous capacity in addressing myriads of issues hampering conducive living standards of Nigerians.

While addressing ESUT Management led by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Aloysius-Michaels Okolie at Agbani, Enugu State on Wednesday, the Director General of NASRDA, Dr. Mathew Adepoju, stated that the MoU would take care of funding cutting edge research for ESUT staff and students.

The Director General equally stated that the Agency would build Advance Cosmic Ray Laboratory in the University which would be equipped with data software and instruments to aid research and innovation amongst staff and students of the institution.

He further stated that the MoU would strengthen academia and industry collaboration in order to guarantee sustainable national development, adding that there would equally be exchange programmes between the University and the Agency.

In his response, the Vice Chancellor of ESUT, Professor Okolie, who described the MoU as a welcome development, stated that it would help to guarantee the experiential learning model of Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State.

He further stated that ESUT had already inaugurated its Innovation and ICT Hub to guarantee certification programmes for staff and students of the University.

He also bemoaned the rote learning method of Nigerian education system, regretting that it has failed to address the problems of the society. He further stated that the MoU would be mutually-beneficial for both parties, urging the Agency to build and turn the Cosmic Ray Laboratory into a certification and training centre to address the gap in our education system.

He assured that ESUT would provide the needed support and security which would help to realize the goals of the Agency in the University.

The signing of the MoU equally coincided with the 15th Annual National Conference and General Meeting of the Astronomical Society of Nigeria themed: Astronomy and Space Science for National Development: The Role of Artificial Intelligence.

The conference was organized by the Department of Industrial Physics under the headship of Dr. Chima Iheanyichukwu Abraham.

The post ESUT, NASRDA Partner on Research, Staff/students Exchange Programme appeared first on ESUT Monitor.

By Amaechi Agbo

As part of efforts to enhance its manpower development and promote quality assurance in aircraft servicing, Maintenance and repair, the Eastwing Aviation Institute Enugu has concluded a 30-day training programme at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT).

The training programme which held at the Faculty of Engineering Laboratory, ESUT commenced on July 8 and ended on Friday, August 1 with 12 staff of the being put through the practical aspect of aircraft maintenance, servicing and repair under the guidance of ESUT Lecturer, Engr Obeta Christian Nwachukwu.

Speaking in an interview, the Secretary of Eastwing Aviation Enugu, Michael Onuminya who led the team to the university, told ESUT Monitor that the training was to enhance the output of the trainees with a view to make them professionals and world engineers in aircraft maintenance and repair.

“Our objective is to give the staff the needed and required training in aircraft repair and maintenance. As aircraft engineers, we embark on routine training to equip them better. We have been at ESUT since July and we are concluding today being Friday.

“We have understanding with the management of the university to use their facilities or laboratories in scaling up our staff training and that is why we are here. At Eastwing Aviation, professionalism and quality assurance are our key principles and that is why we are embarking on regular training to equip our engineers with the prerequisites they need to be better,” she said.

On his part, the Chief Technologist, Engr Obeta Nwachukwu of the Department of Electrical/Electronics, ESUT, said that the training which started on 8^th of July was part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed previously by the ESUT Management and the Eastwing Aviation. 

“The essence of the training is that they need our knowledge and facilities to facilitate their training of engineers.  There is a collaborative understanding between Eastwing and ESUT on knowledge sharing and use of facilities. When we start running our Aeronautical Engineering, we will also send our students to them for training. They have been here, twelve of them, for intense training and we rounded off on Friday,” Engr Obeta said.

It could be recalled that the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) in November 2023 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Eastwing Aviation Institute, Enugu to offer National Diploma and Higher National Diploma certificates in Aircraft Engineering Technology. This collaboration aims to empower youths in the South East by providing opportunities in the aviation sector.

Eastwing Aviation is a Nigerian indigenous registered aviation training centre that specialises in training and retraining of aviation personnel to both national and international standards. The centre was founded and registered with the Nigerian corporate affairs commission in 2012.

The post Eastwing Aviation Concludes One-month Aircraft Engineering Training At ESUT appeared first on ESUT Monitor.

ENUGU, NIGERIA – MultiMix Academy, Nigeria’s leading logistics and supply chain education provider, has partnered with Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) to enhance capacity building in the sector.

According to Mr. Obiora Madu, Founder/CEO of MultiMix Academy, “Our collaboration with ESUT is a significant step towards bridging the gap between academia and industry. We’re committed to delivering quality education with employability advantages.”

MultiMix Academy, with over 20 years of experience, brings its expertise in global trade, imports, exports, and logistics management to the partnership. “We’ve worked with all industries in Nigeria, from oil and gas to FMCG, public sectors, and general manufacturing,” Mr. Madu noted.

The partnership, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), has already yielded impressive results. The first programme attracted 162 participants, including top ESUT management staff such as the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Aloysius-Michaels Okolie; the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof Chike Nwoha; the Registrar, Chief Ambrose Ugwu; the Directors of Academic Planning and ESUT Consultancy Services, Professors Chike Anibeze and Okechukwu Oji, respectively, among others.

“We’re proud to collaborate with ESUT, an institution committed to innovation and quality education,” Mr. Madu said. “Our joint programs will enhance employability for graduates and benefit the university, our company, and students alike.”

ESUT staff will benefit from subsidized and fully paid training opportunities. “I assure you that such opportunities will arise repeatedly,” Mr. Madu promised.

MultiMix Academy boasts international affiliations with APICS, CIPS, and three U.S. and Nigerian certification institutes. The company has collaborated with Open University, Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology, University of Ife, and others.

“This partnership provides numerous opportunities for ESUT staff. We’re committed to capacity building, not just for management but for the entire university,” Mr. Madu emphasized.

The post MultiMix Academy, ESUT Partner on Logistics, Supply Chain Training appeared first on ESUT Monitor.