ESPOLY Set To Prepare Ground For Growing Enugu Smart Schools Initiative 
By Wilfred Chukwuma
Rector, Enugu State Polytechnic, ESPOLY Iwollo, Reverend Dr Nnamdi Nwankwo has on Monday, 24/6/24, called for support and partnership of philanthropists of all fields in the state towards achieving the goals of the institution’s upcoming “Education Summit”, slated to hold on the 29th of June.
Reverend Dr Nwankwo while briefing the press in Enugu, on the institution’s upcoming education summit, in Enugu, also unveiled the theme of the summit, “Transforming Education and Laying Legacy” and further appreciated the partnership of the Senate Minority Whip, and senator representing Enugu West Senatorial District, Senator Osita Ngwu.
The Rector who started with a brief history of the institution, also emphasised the need for the entire state to be part of this initiative, including the government, heads of schools, private individuals, firms, and philanthropists from all fields, to achieve a better educational structure, through the birth of ESPOLY, as it affects the future of the state, in the area of better skill acquisition for the middle class workers.
He disclosed that the institution was being repositioned to serve as a receptive ground for students growing from the smart schools initiative of the Enugu state government.
Also, while explaining the need for an improved tertiary education curricular in the country, he noted that the summit is aimed at improving the school infrastructure and thus, there is a “need for better structures to facilitate a healthier learning environment for better skill impact.”
“In other words, a healthy mind in a healthy body”, he added.
Reverend Dr Nwankwo while appreciating the support of the Senate Minority Whip, representing Enugu West Senatorial District, Senator Osita Ngwu, also acknowledged the support of the State Government, led by the state governor, Dr Peter Mbah, “who stands on the edge of helping to fully bring the initiative’s goals to life.”
He further buttressed the importance for individuals, organisations and the government institutions to actively support in achieving a smooth skill acquisition, procurement of infrastructures, teacher training and other needs of the institution, in order to impact the middle class individuals with right skills and thus, attract development to Enugu west and Enugu state at large.
The Rector noted that the institution had several forms of enlightenment and awareness programme in the past, “but this is the first of its kind, as it is equally aimed at addressing the needs of the institution, as it is pertinent for the appropriate running of the institution.”
He however added that, with the administrative initiative of the state Governor, Dr Peter Mbah, which buttressed the importance of good education system, “and thus there is an awareness for reformative approach towards the institution’s physical infrastructures and ESPOLY is birthed towards achieving such goals for the institution, which is in line with the development of Enugu West and the state at large.”
Fielding questions by the newsmen, the ESPOLY Rector further explained that the institution is not an independent body, “it works strictly with the education system and curricular of the tertiary institution, and thorough scrutiny is done in the course of our staff recruitment”, noting that proper recruitment committee was usually set for the exercise.
The Senate Minority Whip, Osita Ngwu, represented by his Special Adviser, Media, Dr Luke Mgboh, chronicled the efforts of his office in partnering the education sector, to achieve the set goals.
Dr Luke Mgboh-
Rep. Senate Minority Whip
“We are passionate about education and empowering the youths in the area of education and skills acquisition”, he noted.
Senator Ngwu said his office had lined up programmes targeted at empowering the people of his senatorial district through education for self reliance and commended Governor Mbah for setting the enabling ground for education transformation, especially with the smart schools initiative.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Sam Udekwe is a journalist working in the News and Current Affairs department, Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS) Enugu. He is well trained in all genres of journalistic venture.
Mr Sam read Mass Communication, graduating all with Distinction in National Diploma, Higher National Diploma and Postgraduate Diploma at IMT, Enugu and Madonna University, Okija, Anambra state, while he is presently on his M.Sc programme also in Mass Communication, at National Open University of Nigeria.
He is currently the NUJ Chairman, Enugu state.
samowailo@gmail.com
