The Vice-Chancellor, Enugu
State University, Prof. Luke Okechukwu Anike, has among other things
said that universities do not just engage in academics, but also provide
solutions to problems that confront the people, Peace Obi reports
The enormous potentials of the
university system, its capacity and capabilities in dealing with both
academic and non-academic problems might not have been sufficiently
appreciated by the society.
To point the attention of the society, her
leaders and policy makers to the seemingly neglected role of the
academic community, the Vice-Chancellor, Enugu State University (ESUT),
Prof. Luke Okechukwu Anike, has said that aside academic services, the
university system is meant to proffer solutions to diverse problems
confronting the society.
Speaking recently with the newsmen at
the convocation ceremony of the state-owned university in the Coal City,
Anike disclosed that the university community possesses all it takes to
address different issues arising from human environment. Speaking on
the relationship between the university system and Nigeria
socio-economic development, Anike noted that one of the the cardinal
objectives of the university is community service. According to him, the
university and socio-economic development of the country are two
elements that must work together for the good of the society. Stressing
that it is a relationship that must be sustained, the Don said that the
university community has the options of using knowledge and skills to
find solutions to diverse problems. “The essence of the university is to
proffer solutions to the societal issues. That is why the cardinal
objectives of the university are community service. When problems arise,
the universities take them up as challenges and look at all the options
using knowledge and skills to find solutions.
“So you cannot separate the university
system from the society. They must work together. So we want the
government to challenge the universities by giving them more tasks
specific towards finding solutions to particular problems in the country
both socially and economically. With the right funding and motivation,
we will be able to provide sustainable solutions to some of our
contemporary problems in the country.”
The Don who said that he believes in
free flow of action that yields results and that at the end, the
expected results are used in moving the society forward noted that it
has been partly responsible for the recent landmark ratings of ESUT as
the number one state university in the country and the number 17 in the
country, in the recent webo-metric survey rating of universities.
Discussing the roadmap in sustaining the feat, Anike said, “From on-set,
I have promised that our university will take bold steps to ensure
global visibility and excellent academic ratings. We have also tried to
build best practices and skills so that they will be strengthened and be
more confident to carry out whatever functions that come their way. We
have tried to build linkages and connections with institutions around
the world and we will continue to build such linkages.
“In fact this morning, I will be signing
an MOU with Anglo Ruskin University in the United Kingdom for staff and
students exchange programmes and for collaboration and research which
is one of our principal actions. In addition to the
collaboration/linkages with other universities and agencies, and as a
way of enriching and enlarging its coast in terms of academic content,
capacity building and internalisation, the university has successfully
signed MoU with a number of foreign collaboration in areas of staff and
student exchange, curriculum development and other areas of mutual
benefit. Some of the institutions include, Dolphin University Ireland,
which was attracted by our dear Governor, Right Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi
when he visited UK, University of Wolverhampton, England to mention a
few.”
Speaking further, the VC who disclosed
that ESUT management is committed in making the institution the number
one choice for seekers of quality higher education, however noted that
insufficient resources has been a clog on its wheel. “We as a
university, we cannot say we have everything that we need to achieve the
goals we have set for ourselves, especially with regards to funds and
materials, for instance, laboratory materials and other important
features and structures that the university requires.” Adding that
working with a government that appreciates and values education has made
the job a lot more easier for the institution’s management.
“In terms of funding, it is pertinent to
mention that the government of Enugu State has shown deep interest in
allowing the university to function by providing subventions to the
universities regularly. We are very happy with our governor who believes
in education and achieving excellence and he has maintained that by
showing great interest and releasing funds to us as at when due.
Disclosing other sources of funding and
assistance to the institution like the state local governments,
TETfunds, corporate organisations such as the Central Bank of Nigeria,
Nigerian Communications Commission, Innoson Group and a philanthropist
like Prince Arthur Eze, the university’s, Chancellor, Wakili Adamawa
whom he said has also mobilised his friends in the support of the
university projects, the VC said that it has also extended its tentacles
to its alumni, well-meaning individuals as well as international
organisations. Calling on philanthropists and well-meaning persons to
invest in the nation’s education system, Anike said it would enable
universities live up to their responsibilities.
“I think it is necessary to motivate
other philanthropists and other well-meaning persons to invest in
education because the gains of such investments to the community and the
nation are unquantifiable. Such funds will allow universities like ours
to obtain some features and materials that are necessary for the smooth
running of universities. We still need to continue to work at the pace
or increase the pace in order to achieve the goals of which the
university was set up and set the pace for the development of our
university.”
Noting that the economic downturn has
had a critical impact in the smooth running process of the university
system, the Don disclosed that “it becomes more difficult to be able to
get the proper and quality materials we will require to carry out the
critical functions you need to do to maintain the standards with other
universities. That is why I said that government should challenge the
universities more by asking them to carry out specific tasks geared
towards solving particular problems,” he said.
And despite the economic recession,
Anike said that the welfare of the ESUT staff remains paramount on the
scale. According to the Don, his administration believes in management
with human face. “We believe that the staff should get what is due to
them. As a result, we put prize target to providing their emolument.
When we pay them, we can then ask them to do their work. If you do not
pay them, you do not expect them to do their work. We make every
legitimate efforts to ensure that staffers are paid. As long as we have
the resources to do that, we pay them and ensure that they re-dedicate
themselves each month in carrying out their functions.”
And that with an inclusive management
system, seamless information flow among others, the relationship between
the management and the staff remained cordial. “The university
management cherishes its teachers and programmes. It is very critical
for us. We have been able to do this by laying every information to the
unions and other interested members of the university. When you tell
them the truth, everybody becomes aware of the situation on ground.
There is nothing to hide. We maintain seamless information flow between
management and staff and we call meetings often,” he said.
Discussing on the roadmap towards
positioning ESUT to be globally competitive, Anike said making it
attractive to prospective scholars is the beginning point. According to
him, “We want ESUT to be a university that people seek to enter and
graduate from. In that line, we are ready and committed to hire the best
staff and leadership, timely intervention for any crises, for
information that will be valuable for staff and students and then
organise them. We emphasise research because the university was
established for that purpose. We should be able to carry out such
mandate by emphasising collaboration and linkages to solve contemporary
problems.”
Painting the global picture of the
university, the VC envisages in the next four years, he said, “I would
like to see ESUT as having moved forward from what the situation is to
another level. To have a large number of our staff and students
quartered within the university so that 24 hours everyday, we will have
communal activities within the university. I want to see ESUT to be a
full community of its own. A large proportion of our staff leave the
campus after work and in a university, there is no after work. This is
the kind of global picture we want to have of ESUT.”
On his part, Ugwuanyi who commended the
Governing Council, the management, staff and students of the state owned
university, Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT),
for keeping faith with their mandate, and ensuring that the
institution’s flag continues to be high despite many odds, noted that he
had at the inauguration of the Governing Council in January 2016
charged the Council and the Management of ESUT, to deploy all their
energies and competences to improve the fortunes of ESUT and take it to
the desired pinnacle of intellectual and technological excellence.
“Today, we have come, not just to
witness the 17th Convocation but also to celebrate the milestones that
it has achieved in the recent times.” The Governor, who is also an
Alumnus having obtained two Master’s Degree from ESUT, assured that “as a
government and in line with our promises, we have continued to place a
very high premium on the improvement of the quality and standard of
education in Enugu State, and we have continued to develop and implement
policies that are designed to reposition and revitalise educational
institutions at all levels in the state. These include provision of
critical infrastructure, renovation of existing facilities and the
re-equipment of our schools so as to enable them compete favourably with
their contemporaries and keep up with emerging realities and
developments,” he added.
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