...Governor pledges further investment in education, announces new Centre for Experiential Learning at ESUT
The Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has lauded the remarkable transformation of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), as the institution steadily reclaims its status as a leading centre of excellence in education and innovation.
Governor Mbah made the remarks at the university’s 20th Convocation Ceremony held at the Agbani campus, where he was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration and Corporate Governance. The honor recognized his significant contributions to the advancement of education and governance in the state.
Speaking at the event, Mbah expressed satisfaction with the strides made by ESUT under his administration, including the accreditation of 97 percent of its academic programs. He emphasized the importance of technology and innovation in transforming higher education, noting that his government has committed over N1.6 billion to infrastructural development at the institution, addressing space constraints and enhancing academic facilities.
“I have seen firsthand the technological advances in the university’s exhibitions, from biotechnology to pharmacology, which reaffirm the role of universities in driving technological progress. This is why my administration is introducing a policy that mandates all state-owned tertiary institutions to incorporate Experiential Learning into their curricula,” Mbah stated. He added that substantial funding for research would also be allocated in the upcoming year to support innovation at ESUT and other state institutions.
As part of his commitment to fostering innovation, Governor Mbah announced plans to build a Centre for Experiential Learning at ESUT. The Centre will serve as an innovation hub, where professors and students will engage in hands-on, practical learning that directly contributes to societal development.
Mbah also revealed that his administration had allocated a N50 million grant to Professor Cyprian Mgbachi, an inventor from ESUT, to refine his groundbreaking cooking stove and cell phone battery charger technology. The governor further expressed his support for other inventors and innovators within the university.
In a notable achievement, 8,437 students graduated during the convocation, with nine students earning First Class honours. Among them, Osita Tracy Ezinne of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences was recognized as the overall best graduating student with an impressive 4.88 CGPA. Other top performers included Chukwudebe Pearl Ewere from the Faculty of Biological Sciences and Odoeme Ogechi Eunice from the Faculty of Environmental Sciences, who took the second and third positions, respectively.
Professor Aloysius-Michaels Okolie, the Vice Chancellor of ESUT, highlighted the university's successes, noting that the institution’s programs have now attracted more applicants than ever before. With improved facilities, full accreditation for nearly all programs, and substantial investments from the state government, ESUT is poised to continue its upward trajectory in producing skilled professionals for various sectors of society.
At the ceremony, Governor Mbah and Austrian businessman Bernd Bergmair both received Honorary Doctorates in Business Administration. This marks the first time a foreigner has been awarded an honorary doctorate by ESUT. Mr. Bergmair, a globally recognized investor, also contributed an additional N52 million to support Professor Mgbachi’s invention, bringing the total financial support for the project to N102 million.
Governor Mbah concluded his address by urging the graduates to embrace excellence and stay connected with their alma mater. He emphasized that ESUT must remain a crucial contributor to the development of Enugu State and beyond, providing the human capital needed for innovation and economic growth in fields such as healthcare, engineering, agriculture, and ICT.
"As we move forward, ESUT will continue to be a conveyor belt for the human capital required for the transformation of our society," he said.
The convocation ceremony also served as a testament to the ongoing efforts of the Mbah administration to reshape Enugu’s educational landscape, ensuring that institutions like ESUT remain at the forefront of academic and technological advancement.
