By Amaechi Agbo

In this exclusive interview, the new University Librarian of ESUT, Dr Uzoamaka Ogwo, shared her plans, with ESUT Monitor. Her elation after her appointment as well as plans for the Library and challenges it’s facing.

The Interview was anchored by Amaechi Agbo. Excerpts.

Profile

My name is Dr. Uzoamaka Ogwo, by the special grace of God, the new University Librarian of Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) Library.

I am a professional and certified librarian with over 15 years of experience in librarianship. I have Masters and Doctorate degrees in Library and Information Science.

Before my appointment as ESUT University Librarian, I was the Librarian, National Center for Energy Research and Development, University of Nigeria, Nsukka,  a research institute domiciled at the UNN and also a Senior Lecturer, in the Department of Library and Information Science, UNN.

I have skills in general library management and my passion in librarianship is to bring digital transformation in libraries, a platform that can enable users have seamless access to information anywhere, anytime without physical boundary.  I have strong passion for the development of an innovative library environment that will be able to serve the university community, the students and faculty members for teaching, learning and research.

Resuming Work In ESUT As The University Librarian

I felt so much elated and grateful to God to have assumed office as the University Librarian of ESUT. No doubt, it is a privilege and an opportunity to serve the university community. I saw it as a privilege and a call to serve in this capacity, to bring new innovations, developments and digital transformation in ESUT library; so it is an opportunity and a privilege to serve.

Contrast between ESUT Library and UNN Library

What I find different from ESUT Library when contrasted with UNN library is the fact that ESUT is a State University Library while UNN is Federal. ESUT library still have a lot to be done in terms of digital/e-library development which is one of my missions, to see that the library is elevated to the level that anybody can access it from any parts of the globe.

There are a lot to be done here starting from identification of the library to having a functional digital library system. Fundamentally, there are obvious needs and they are my priorities and assignments of being here, such as Web OPAC (Online Public Assess Catalogue), Institutional Repository, functional databases, mobile  library system that could enable users to have unrestricted access to the library from any parts of the world anytime, anywhere without any physical boundaries. The library is the center, the academic hub of every university and we have to elevate it to that standard.

Work Environment

I must tell you the truth, I had a very warm welcome to ESUT Library. The staff have been very friendly and supportive. There is an ambiance of good working environment and cooperation that one would want to navigate to contribute more to improve on what is already on ground.

Challenges?

Of course, every establishment has its own challenges and ESUT library is not an exception. Fundamentally, funding is the major challenge we are facing. There are a number of digital transformations, innovations and services that we need fund to deploy such as computers softwares, web OPAC, functional databases,  learning commons, Makerspace, smart technologies such as RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), AI Tools, maintenance of the library building, landscaping of the library environment etc.

The  whole library environment needs a touch – renovation – because the library is the image of every academic institution, it is the centre, the heartbeat  and the pivote point around which every academic activities revolves. Hence, the library needs a facelift, and all those things require fund.

The good news is that our indefatigable Vice-Chancellor, Professor Aloysius-Michaels Okolie and the entire management have been so supportive and making frantic efforts to seeing that all these challenges are being fixed gradually. Recently, the issue of signage system, internet access, has been fixed and we are very optimistic that every other needs in the library will be a thing of history in no distant time by God’s grace.

Environment Cleanup

When I came in, the library environment was not what a library vicinity should be like. However, with the approval of our Talk-and-do Vice Chancellor, the library environment has been cleared and graded. Very importantly, we now have signage system for easy identification of the library.

Plan To Landscape The Library Environment

Having graded the environment, which is one step, we are still very optimistic that the management will plan towards landscaping of the library environment to improve its aesthetics and maintain a serene environment conducive for our users.

UNN Dominating ESUT on Appointments

(Laughs). That is because we are Super Lions and Lionesses and the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) products are always the best. I am not just looking at the issue of dominance as you pointed out but on the impact. Dr Jonas Ezema (former University Librarian) did his best as well as my other predecessors. Not forgetting Professor Jacinta Eze who handed over to me.  The VC is currently transforming the university to a global standard with his disruptive innovative agenda, infrastructural development and digital transformation. I am also here to make my own impact of introducing digital transformation to the library.

Extending it beyond that front, you also have to give the Enugu State Government trumps up for always getting the best for ESUT particularly when you realize that these people are “Ndi Enugu”. It is a plus to the University, to Enugu State and to humanity.

Is that to say that ESUT is not producing capable hands as well? NO! To the contrary, remember that few months ago, the former Dean of Faculty of Law in ESUT, Professor Simon Uchenna Ortuanya, was appointed the Vice-Chancellor of UNN. And he made history as the first Nsukka person to head the University. My take is simple, Ndi Enugu nwere mmadu (Enugu has capable people) in all ramifications and I am happy and grateful to the Governor, the council members, the Vice-Chancellor, the management and the entire university community. Together we will propel ESUT and Nigerian educational system to greater heights.

The post EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: “My Appointment As University Librarian a Privilege, Opportunity To Serve” – Dr. Uzoamaka Ogwo, New ESUT Librarian  appeared first on ESUT Monitor.

The ongoing nationwide strike by the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the National Association of Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) continued yesterday on most university campuses across the country.

The unions’ monitoring team yesterday shut down the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) Demonstration Primary School.

It was learnt that the team stormed the primary school within the university, closed it and asked the head teacher and the pupils to go home to enforce the strike.

A senior employee at UNIPORT’s administrative department, who spoke in confidence, said: “The taskforce enforcing the strike today shut down the UNIPORT’s Demonstration Primary School. The headmistress of the schools thought that since it is a primary school, it is not included in the strike.

“But the taskforce explained that members of staff of the primary school are also members of the unions and should be affected by the strike.

“The strike has been effective since it started on Monday. None of them reported to work apart from the people enforcing the strike.”

The strike also stalled the orientation programme organised by the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) at Ile-Ife in Osun State for first year students.

The university’s SSANU Chairman, Dr. Taiwo Arobadi, announced this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ile-Ife.

Arobadi said that it was a pity that new students, who were being exposed to the dos and don’ts in the institution, could have such an ugly experience while entering the institution.

The SSANU chairman said the union unanimously agreed that the strike be total and indefinite until government listened to its striking members.

“We have spoken with the university management and appealed that they understand the position of the union, adding that the order for the strike came from the national leadership of the union.

“Immediately we receive alert on our phones, we will resume our duties,” he said.

The unions’ Joint Action Committee (JAC) at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) yesterday joined the strike.

Addressing reporters in Ilorin, the university’s NASU Chairman Suberu Ibrahim said the strike would remain total and indefinite until the Federal Government paid the four months’ withheld salaries of its members.

His SSANU counterpart, Mr. Falowo Naheem, expressed displeasure over alleged mistreatment that the unions’ members were getting from the government.

At the Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufo-Alike Ikwo (AE-FUNAI) in Ebonyi State, NASU threatened to sanction defaulters of the strike.

The AE-FUNAI’s NASU Chairman, Mr. Chibuike Igwe, told NAN that the union had mobilised for the full compliance to the industrial action in the university.

Also, the strike grounded administrative activities yesterday at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture in Umudike (MOUAU), Abia State.

Our correspondent reports that apart from the office of the vice chancellor that was open, which members of the striking unions moved to close, all other offices were shut down.

Only the Department of Veterinary Medicine, whose students started their exams last week, was spared.

Other departments were said to have concluded their examinations last two to three weeks.

Apart from security operatives seen at different postings, all other non-academic workers stayed at home.

At the University of Jos (UNIJOS), SSANU Chairman Anthony Joro and his NASU counterpart, Monday Danjuma, said the unions’ members would not return to work until the Federal Government met their demands.

At the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), the unions grounded administrative activities in all the departments.

SSANU Chairman Linus Akata said academic activities at the institution would remain on hold until all outstanding payments were made.

He said: “We held our congress yesterday (Monday) and people voted 100 per cent and commenced the strike immediately.

“Today (Tuesday), it was complied with 100 per cent. The bursar, the registrar and all the principal officers are working from home. No office is open. Both primary and secondary schools have been shut down.”

The unions’ branches at the University of Ibadan (UI) complied with the strike.

A lecturer at the Department of Sociology and Criminology, Dr. Tade Oludayo, told our correspondent that the strike did not have a direct impact on students as they had finished their examinations.

A student and President of the Faculty of Law, Idowu Ademola, said though students had finished their examinations few weeks ago, lecture theatres, libraries, and other places of learning were shut down due to the strike.

The Nation Credited

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The 2024 edition of the South East University Games Association (SEUGA) which was held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, UNIZIK, Awka Anambra State, saw ESUT team sweep four medals in the competition which ended on 30^th January 2024.

The ESUT football team of the male category stole the show as they won the gold medal after defeating the Lions of University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) in the final.

The female Basketball team on the other hand showed their quality as they emerged the gold medallists of the basketball category, and both the male and female teams in the volleyball category settled for a bronze medal respectively.

The female table tennis category also saw the ESUT Team go home with the bronze medal, making it a total of two gold medals and three bronze medals in the bag for the ESUT Team in the just concluded SEUGA 2024.

The ESUT team’s performance gives them the momentum going into further competitions like the upcoming Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA) 2024.

University of Jos, Plateau State, will host the 2024 NUGA Games with the Vice-Chancelor, Prof. Tanko Ishaya expressing assurance that the university is ready to successfully host the games between November and December 2024.

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