The Rector, Prof. Gozie Sunday Ogbodo (2nd left); Igwe Igwesi; the Pro-Chancellor/Chairman of the Governing Council, Godfrey Okoye University, Prof. Nwachukwu C. Okeke (right) and Mark Eze, Esq., the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of IMT at the ceremony (1st left)
By Tony Adibe
The Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu has, like the Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, broken over 20-year-old water jinx with the commissioning of the 10,000-litres water storage tank on the campus.
NewsBits recalls that although the IMT, initially, enjoyed potable water that flowed from taps located strategically in every nook and cranny on the campus, but things, somehow, became so bad that for over 20 years the students and staff of the school suffered acute water scarcity.
It was as if previous administrations that managed the tertiary institution didn’t regard water as a critical issue, hence reportedly failed to give it priority attention. Water tankers were said to have supplied water to the school over the years, a situation, insiders claimed, didn’t meet the demand. That was the reality until the current Rector, Prof. Gozie Sunday Ogbodo assumed office on November 1, 2024. Ogbodo thereupon had promised to restore water to the institute, just as Governor Peter Mbah restored water in Enugu within the 180 days of coming into the Lion Building.
Clearly, the Rector’s promise was fulfilled on Wednesday, 16/07/2025 to the joy and excitement of staff and students who trooped out to see things themselves, NewsBits learnt.
Relief, however, came to the school when the Enugu State Commissioner for Water Resources, Dr. Felix Nnamani unveiled the IMT Water Project – the newly constructed 10,000 litre water storage tanks in the Institute – to end, once and for all, the water challenge on the campus.
Addressing staff and students during the ceremony, Dr Nnamani expressed gratitude to Governor Mbah for the “mystery he is performing as far as the water project is concerned in Enugu State.”
The Crowd of students and staff watch with admiration during the commissioning of the water storage tank on the campus
Nnamani said: “the Governor is deliberate with the production, transmission and reticulation of water within Enugu and its environs. Today, Enugu State is generating over 70 million litres of water from 9th Mile 247 facility and 50 million litres from Oji augmentation station in addition to the upgrade of all underground water pipes.”
The commissioner further said that the Governor Mbah-led administrations was generating 120 million liters for use and consumption by Enugu people.
According to Nnamani, Governor Mbah had approved a brand-new transmission line to double the existing one while reticulation is ongoing in 10 zones within the Enugu metropolis with household connections approved by the Governor. He, however, described the Rector’s gesture as one in the right direction.
Also speaking during the ceremony, the Pro-Chancellor/Chairman of the Governing Council Godfrey Okoye University, Prof. Nwachukwu Christian Okeke expressed deep appreciation to the Rector, whom he said, “cannot do less.”
According to Prof. Okeke, the state of the Rector’s office represents what he expects of him. He explained that “this comes from the background that he served three Vice Chancellor’s who used the same office as Vice Chancellors of ESUT”, stressing, however, that “Your Rector will be the best Rector ever!”
In his brief remark, His Royal Highness, the traditional ruler of Obuofia Awkunanaw and Chairman Nkanu East Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Igwesi thanked God for giving Enugu State Governor Mbah, whom he described as “the best that ever happened to Enugu State.” The traditional ruler prayed that “God and Nkanu land will bless the Governor as well as the Rector, Prof. Gozie Ogbodo for the good job they are doing.”
Responding, Prof. Gozie Ogbodo said that, “IMT is keying into the bigger dream of His Excellency Dr. Peter Ndubisi Mbah which is anchored on strategic planning and management of scarce resources for the good of our people.”
According to Prof. Ogbodo, “We will do our best to expand the water project to every part of the Institute.” He added that IMT has now been connected to the Enugu State water corporation which wasn’t the case before now.
“When we came here in November, 2024; because the governor, Dr. Mbah has set the tempo, we decided to key in to sing the new mantra of a new IMT; that is determined to reclaim all of its lost glory,” said the Rector. He also said that the dream of the current administration of the institution in the area of potable water was to sustain the achievement, and ensure that all the bottled water served on the campus during ceremonies must be IMT water.
Established in 1973 and modelled after the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States, the IMT under the Prof. Ogbodo-led administration, strives to position itself as a “centre of excellence in technology, innovations, and management education, pushing forward its mission to produce “globally competitive and socially responsible graduates.”
NewsBits reports that with the commissioning of the water project, and as the students return to resume their studies for another academic session, the challenge of potable water, would have been reduced, if not permanently, at least maximally on the campus.
