By Alumona Ukwueze

ENUGU — The Vice Chancellor of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Professor Aloysius-Michaels Okolie, was on Friday honoured with the chieftaincy title of Ebube Dike I of Agbaogugu Kingdom in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State.

The title was conferred by the traditional ruler of Obodoakpu Kingdom, also in Awgu LGA, His Royal Highness Igwe Eric Nwafor, who said the honour was in recognition of Professor Okolie’s commitment to human capacity and community development, as well as his leadership in advancing scholarship at ESUT.

Igwe Nwafor noted that under the Vice Chancellor’s leadership, ESUT has undergone significant digital transformation, alongside improvements in staffing and infrastructure, positioning the university to produce graduates who are solution-oriented and globally competitive.

According to the monarch, the university has become a formidable institution among tertiary institutions globally, with the establishment of a fully equipped Innovation Hub designed to provide students with practical digital skills. This initiative, he said, is aimed at ensuring graduates are financially independent and capable of becoming employers of labour.

He also highlighted improvements in academic content, expansion of faculties and disciplines, and increased admission quotas for Medicine and Surgery, Nursing Sciences, and Medical Laboratory Science. Additionally,  he said that staff welfare has improved, with prompt promotions and regular payment of salaries.

“These achievements and many other human capacity development initiatives informed our decision to confer on him the title of Ebube Dike I of Agbaogugu Kingdom,” the monarch said, to resounding applause.

In his acceptance speech, Professor Okolie expressed gratitude to the kingdom for the honour, describing it as a motivation to do more for humanity and societal development. He pledged to work closely with traditional rulers to ensure development reaches all parts of the community and beyond.

His wife, Lady Uchenna Okolie, was also honoured with the chieftaincy title of Lolo Ebube Dike.