The Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, has expressed happiness with the speedy change of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, which is fast rebuilding the institution’s glory as a centre of excellence.
Governor Mbah spoke during the 20th Convocation Ceremony of ESUT at Agbani, in the Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State.
It was gathered that he was also conferred with an honorary doctorate in business administration and corporate governance at the weekend.
He announced his government’s plan to build a Centre for Experiential Learning in ESUT to enhance creativity 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 institution.
Meanwhile, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Aloysius-Michaels Okolie, disclosed the graduation of 8,437 students of the institution with first, post-graduate, master’s, and doctorate degrees, stating that nine students made 1st class.
The VC also said 97 percent of ESUT programs had been accredited through the great investments of Mbah’s government in the education sector.
However, the Governor said, “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 ESUT Teaching Hospital Park ParkLane Enugu.