A few weeks after Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State offered scholarship to 340 indigent students of the State Polytechnic, Iwollo, the governor on Thursday granted yet another scholarship to 340 students of the Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu, at the cost of N54.4 million, covering their tuition fees for four years of academic studies in all engineering programmes of the institution.
Gov. Ugwuanyi announced the scholarship when delivering the 4th Distinguished Academic Lecture of the institute, titled: “The place of good governance in achieving functional science and technology education in Nigeria”.
The governor said that the decision was “in line with our policy of providing access to education at all levels to all strata of the society in all educational fields of engineering and technology”.
He explained that the 340 beneficiaries of the scholarships will be spread across the 17 local government areas, resulting in 20 students per council.
Gov. Ugwuanyi added that the gesture was “aimed at encouraging our people to do engineering and help position the state for rapid industrial development”.
Delivering the detailed, educative and captivating lecture at the colourful event held at IMT’s Conference Centre, which was richly attended by dignitaries across the state and beyond, such as the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Edward Ubosi; the Chief Judge of the State, Hon. Justice Priscilla Emehelu; the MD/CEO of Access Bank Plc, Dr. Herbert Wigwe, represented by Mr. Victor Etukudoh, among others, Gov. Ugwuanyi emphasized the importance of functional science and technology education towards national development and promotion of good governance.
The governor stressed that “for every nation to get developed, the application of both science and technology has to go hand in hand”, adding that “villages are developed into towns and towns to cities and cities are expanding to greater horizons all because of science and technology”.
According to him, “today, countries are classified as developed and developing countries based on economy and the application of science and technology. It goes without saying that a nation’s development and prosperity are judged to a large extent by the status of science and technology of the nation”.
On good governance, Gov. Ugwuanyi stated that “the concept of good governance emerged mainly because of practices of bad governance, characterized by corruption, unaccountable governments and lack of respect for human rights”, saying that “when talking about good governance, what is generally referred to is the ability to perform efficiently, effectively and responsively, guided by principles that are feasible and desirable at all levels of the society”.
Narrowing down the lecture on the contributions of his administration to science and technology education with IMT as a case study, the governor said that “in keeping faith with the motto, vision, mission and philosophy of the institute, Enugu State under my leadership has been doing her utmost best to bring about functional science and technology in the country”.
The governor disclosed that his administration in this regard and “in our continued commitment to elevate the Institute of Management and Technology to a centre of excellence in technological development, the Executive Council of Enugu State on the 19th Day of April 2018, approved the release of the sum of N810 million for the construction of an ultra-modern fully furnished classroom complex; a purpose built and fully furnished office complex; a complex for the Exams and Records Division; two buildings that will house modern public conveniences for staff and students; and a fully furnished medical centre”.
He noted that the said amount (N810 million) excludes the earlier sum of N290 million released to the institute for purposes of reaccrediting 18 of her academic programmes, expressing delight that the entire 18 programmes were successfully reaccredited by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
“It, therefore, follows that in past few months, Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu, got a total of N1.1 billion, from Enugu State Government as grants, excluding the monthly subvention of N120 million” he said.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Chairman of IMT Governing Council, Deaconess Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo appreciated the governor and other guests for gracing the occasion, saying that the choice of the lecture was aptly chosen “after a thorough and sober reflection over Your Excellency’s avowed and unprecedented visible commitment towards qualitative tertiary education in Enugu State in general and in IMT in particular”.
“It is therefore, our expectation that this distinguished audience will at the end of the lecture come to know the secret of the success story of good governance in Enugu State”, she stated.
Other speakers at the event, such as the representative of Chairman of the Occasion and CEO of Access Bank Plc, Dr. Wigwe; Rector of the Institute, Prof. Augustine Nweze, etc, also commended Gov. Ugwuanyi for his commitment to the development of education in the state in particular and entrenchment of peace and good governance in general.
