The goal of Management is to make ESUT graduates employers of labour – VC

The Vice Chancellor of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, Professor Aloysius-Michaels Okolie, Wednesday, stressed that the ultimate goal of his administration was to provide critical infrastructure and environment for capacity advancement that would enable graduates of ESUT become employers of labour.

In realisation of this objective, Prof Okolie noted that some positive steps have been taken, including the acquisition of an Afrihub facility in the Institution which it would transform into skills incubation centre for the students of the University.

He made the disclosure during the 2023 annual international conference organized by the Faculty of Engineering ESUT with the theme: ‘Harnessing of Fourth Industrial Revolution for Combating Insecurity and Enhancement of Sustainable Development: Opportunities and Challenges.’

According to the Vice Chancellor,
ESUT Management, “weekend, visited
Port Harcourt to appeal to the Alumni Association of the University to assist us in migrating from 100% crave for certificates into 50-50 skills and certificate acquisition for our graduates.

“Another reason for that journey was to enable us get a space to implement Artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, Machine Learning among others in line with the demands of the fourth industrial revolution. That space would equally enable us to drive innovation in the University in order to expand the realms of opportunities for our students,” he said.

The Vice Chancellor further added that the University has set up a committee to establish Centre of Excellence in the Faculty of Engineering in order to drive innovation, stating that industries would hunt for products of the Institution in the nearest future.

In his keynote presentation entitled ‘Radio Frequency Design and Energy Harvesting Sustainability,’ an alumnus of ESUT and personnel of Greenwich University, United Kingdom, Dr. Augustine Nwajana, said that the era of Internet-of-Everything is already within reach.

He explained that the era would be marked by wireless powering of multiple devices and machines through the energy harvested from Radio Frequencies.

He further stated that the environment would be protected when less battery powered devices are used, adding that researchers are looking for antennas that would use textile materials to attract the Radio Frequencies into our devices.

Also, while discussing the topic of the conference, one of the lead paper presenters and the Director of Research, National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, Dr. Agu Collins, said that the fourth industrial revolution is driven by disruptions in various sectors of the industries.

He explained that these revolutions such as Internet of Things, and Artificial Intelligence could be adapted to provide indigenous solutions to problems confronting our societies.

He further explained that electro optic system could be deployed to solve security problems and equally monitor our crude oil pipelines, adding that special AI cameras could also be used for facial recognition and tracking of criminals.

Dr. Agu equally advocated for up-skilling and re-skilling of the personnel of the University through rejigging of the curriculum in line with the tenets of the fourth industrial revolution.

Earlier in his welcome address, the chairman, Faculty of Engineering International Conference, Prof. Ifeanyi Eze, said that the conference was born out of the need to explore, collaborate and innovate in order to shape the future of our global landscape.

He also said that the fourth industrial revolution marked by convergence of digital, biological, and physical technologies offers the opportunity to address the intricate challenges of our era.

• The AI Revolution: Reshaping Our World
• Nigeria still ranks low on SDGs indices despite pool of skilled professionals – UNN VC
• FG Steps Back from Contempt Proceedings Against Labour Unions
• Canadian scholar to deliver keynote speech at UNN Faculty of Engineering 3rd international conference
• Enugu Govt refutes ESUT student deaths, orders thorough probe

While giving his vote of thanks, the Dean, Faculty of Engineering, ESUT, Professor Godian Mbah, appreciated the ESUT Management led by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Okolie, for providing the enabling environment for scholarship to thrive in the University.

He equally appreciated the Senator representing Enugu West Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Osita Ngwu, and and the Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Uche Ugwu, who are both alumni of the University for their keynote presentations during the conference.

He attributed the success of the conference which was attended by scholars from within and outside Nigeria to the team spirit exhibited by the organisers and the entire personnel and students of Faculty of Engineering, ESUT.