The Enugu State University of Science and Technology Vice Chancellor, Prof. Aloysius Okolie assured the Institute for Peace, Conflict and Development Studies of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities of the University an unalloyed support to fulfill its set goals and make it pace-setter in the aggregate areas of Peace, Conflict, Security, Leadership and Development studies in the country. He made the commitment while addressing the faculty board and the new course participants of the Institute during her 2021/2022 academic orientation exercise conducted for the new students.He stated that it was divinely orchestrated, not only that he was among those that drafted the academic curriculum of the Institute, and part of the faculty, but that he has been granted the opportunity also to drive the vision and mission of the Institute and the University at large.
He used the opportunity among other things to assure the Board and the students of the readiness of his team to take the university to academic and development Eldorado. Some of the assurances, which impacted to the growth of the Institute was his scheduled business trip of the University Management to Lagos, to woo some Enugu State born investors, including, Emperor Baywood Ibe and many others to invest in the Institute. He desired that the Institute would move into its befitting structure, deserving for its high profiled course participants. On this, he encouraged all and sundry to invest in the University, and that the management would be establishing Hall of Fame to eternally appreciate and celebrate partners/investors. More gratifying was the commitment of his management to conduct convocation within months and assured that over twenty thousand outstanding certificates of graduands shall be signed before the end of the year.Beamed with high spirit for work ahead, he thanked the University and particularly Governor of Enugu State, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Lawrence Ugwuanyi for this rare opportunity to serve.Professor Okolie requested the students to always attend lectures as non-attendance to lectures attracts sanctions. That given the number of academia and practitioners, in the Institute, and their tall pedigrees, that success was assured. With high sense of assurance, he noted that a single Institute that prides herself of Thirteen Professors, Five Academic Doctors, and several other field practitioners in Peace and Conflict management from within the University and many other universities, drawn from the country and the globe. In his penchant for humility and simplicity, the Vice Chancellor used the opportunity to celebrate some of his mentors that guided him through academic journey, without which the height today would have been lean.
They include Associate Prof. Okey Oji, who was present, and Prof. Osy Okanya. In the same hand, he congratulated all the faculty members of the institute for their resilience that has aggregate in the success story of institute.To ensure the visibility of programmes and events of the University to the world, he stated that from next week, all directorates, Departments and Faculties of the University organizing any programme should within seconds upload it to university website.The Vice Chancellor was accompanied to the event by the Registrar, Mr. Ambrose Ugwu and the Bursar, Dr. Augustine Ojeh.
The Director of Institute, Professor Felix Asogwa earlier in his address to the new students, admonished Nigerians to always use dialogue and other peaceful means to resolve conflicts for development to strive in all spheres of human endeavors.Professor Asogwa emphasized the essence of propagating peace, stressed that the orientation exercise availed the students the opportunity for close interaction with the lecturers before going into nitty gritty of learning. He called for discipline among the students stressing the need for participation in class work. He advised participants to imbibe humility and commitment and join hands with lecturers for a brighter future.Other faculty members present took turn to welcome and expatiated on the programmes of the Institute. Those present includes Prof. Dilichukwu Omema, Associate Prof. Okey Oji, Dr. Uche Cyril Anioke, Dr. Mrs. Obioma Chike-Okenyi, Mr. Austin Godwin Onuoha and others. The Dean of Postgraduate Studies, Prof. Sam Ugwu was also in attendance, but had to be excused as he had another academic assignment outside the state.
The admin. Officer of the Institute Mr. Nwafor C.N.N. in his introductory remark briefly educated the new course participants of all they need to know about the Institute, what are expected of them, the extent rules, modes of lectures, the session academic calendar, how to assess school portal, fees regime, and many more. And implore them to feel free to interact and take good advantage of their opportunity in the institute. Mr. Nwafor conveyed the excuses of many participants who could not make it due to sit at home order the previous day occasioned by IPOB and court appearance of their Leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
In her appreciation and vote of thanks on behalf of her colleagues, Barr. Mrs. Udemezue was so delighted for the opportunity, and for right choice she made electing the Institute. She appealed to the school to stick to the timetable as has been rolled out, expand the horizon of the institute to enable them to achieve their main objective of enrolling in the institute, and sustain the excellent testimonies characteristics of the programme. In the same vein, she pledged that they would be good ambassadors of the Institute. And further thanked the management profusely for a well-organized event and for the sumptuous entertainment.
Nwafor C.N.N.
Admin. Officer
IPCDS, ESUT