The Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, Institute for Peace, Conflict, and Development Studies (IPCDS), has emphasised the importance of peace in any nation, including Nigeria, positing that no positive feat can be achieved in a conflict-ridden society.
A lecturer on Good Governance, Peace and National Cohesion at the IPCDS, Dr. Ben Nwoye, stated this weekend when he led PhD students at the Institute on an internship visit to the Rector, Institute of Management and Technology, IMT Enugu, Professor Gozie Ogbodo, in his office.
Nwoye, who was accompanied on the visit by the Institute’s Academic Coordinator, Dr. Chiedozie Nwafor, averred that peace remains paramount in human existence and development, hence it has no alternative.
The politician-turned-classroom teacher noted that conflict, from time immemorial, has never done any nation any good, whether developed or developing, hence the need for everyone to always embrace peace. He said that the visit was part of the learning process for the PhD students of the Professor Felix Asogwa-led Institute.
“It is an outstation internship visitation by the Ph.D. and Course Lecturer of Advances in Peace, Governance, and National Cohesion of the Institute.”
Nwoye further explained that the visit was “in line with the mission and vision of the Institute, in line with the course description”, stating that they embarked on the visit with a view to engaging with the IMT Rector on good governance, leadership, and national cohesion.
The former Enugu state Chairman of the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, said that it was also designed to explore potentials and challenges for the development of the state and the nation. According to him, “The programme is not a mere place for theorising, but a place where practical experience aspiration of the National needs, experiential learning in focused, and also about Taking Gown to Town” Nwoye stated.
In his remark, the IMT Rector applauded IPCDS for its commitment in grooming students who would serve as Ambassadors of Peace to society on completion of their studies. Professor Ogbodo, a former Deputy Vice Chancellor, Godfrey Okoye University, expressed readiness to partner with IPCDS in advancing peace in Enugu state and elsewhere via the institution.
Professor Ogbodo, however, advocated for the need to evolve a modern way of resolving conflict because of the contemporary technological advancements in the present-day world. The Rector regretted that unresolved conflicts have wreaked serious havoc on nations across the globe, including Nigeria.
Professor Ogbodo used the occasion to highlight some of the innovations his administration has brought to IMT since assuming office in the last six months, he took over the mantle of leadership of the foremost institution.
He said he met expired curriculum and programmes on assumption of office, “but as I speak, “all the academic programmes have been restored because I declared a state of emergency on the situation.
“Upon assumption of office, I discovered that over 70% of our academic programmes were expired, overdue for accreditation and re-accreditation and consequently, I declared a state of emergency in respect to the academic programmes.”
“Then by the special grace of God, the governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, was very supportive and we were able to subject the programmes to accreditation on April 4th, 5th and 6th. They came here and subjected all of them to accreditation. the officials of the National Board for Technical Education, NABTE, came here this week.
“On Tuesday, I received the official notification that we scored 100% on the accreditation. And more importantly, we were granted full accreditation. The first in IMT. It was not partial but full accreditation for all the programmes,” he hinted.
“The core essence of any tertiary institution and indeed any institution is academic programmes, and that is what we are here for. In addressing your academic programmes, we look at it from two perspectives, the quantity and quality. What is the quantity? How many courses are you offering? Here we are offering 65 programmes.
“That is the quantity, and I can tell you quantity-wise that we are good. Quality-wise is still where I have an ongoing task to make sure that the lecturers attend lectures and teach on time. I have started enforcing students’ attendance and enforcing that any student who does not attend lectures for 70% of the term will not be eligible to write examinations”.
“I want to make sure that as students are encouraged to attend lectures, the lecturers also are encouraged to come and teach them. It takes two to tango in any academic institution. If students come and the lecturers don’t come, it doesn’t not make sense and vice versa”
He added, “I have set up two monitoring teams now. Every day, they must monitor the lecturers, make sure the lecturers are there, and if they are not there, write me a report. And the students make sure that they are there.
“Every student in IMT today must enter into the gate in his departmental uniform. In November, when I came here, they could come in with anything they liked. And so today, that one is settled. If you are not wearing your departmental uniform, you will not enter the gate.
“In my experience, any student who endeavours to attend lectures for 50% of the semester will have enough material and confidence to enter the examination hall without looking for anywhere to sort.
“There was a menace that I also inherited. That menace is called sorting. Today, I have also banned sorting, and there is a popular cliche that the sorter and the sorted will be punished because it takes two to tango. I have about 28 cases of people who have attempted to sort, and we are handling it”. The professor disclosed.
