The Rector of Enugu State Polytechnic (ESPOLY), Iwollo, Rev. Fr. Prof. Nnamdi Nwankwo, has declared that the institution, which is transitioning to the Enugu State University of Agriculture and Technology, is strategically positioned to feed the entire state and beyond while driving cutting-edge agricultural innovation.
Prof. Nwankwo made this assertion during the maiden convocation ceremony of the polytechnic held at its permanent site in Aguobu, Ezeagu Local Government Area of the state. He explained that with adequate funding, the institution is poised to become a hub of agricultural research and production, promoting academic excellence, character formation, and community development.
Commending Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah for his visionary leadership, the rector lauded the governor’s introduction of the Smart Green School Innovative Education model and experiential learning techniques that have revolutionized classroom experiences across the state. He recalled the governor’s public declaration that by 2026, the polytechnic would fully transition to a university of agriculture and technology, a pronouncement the institution eagerly awaits.
The rector also paid tribute to former governors Sullivan Chime, who initiated the polytechnic project, and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who nurtured its growth, for laying the foundation that made the upgrade possible.
Governor Mbah, represented at the event by the state Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Prof. Sam Ugwu, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to an agricultural revolution that would position the new university as a key driver of food security, entrepreneurship, and innovation. He emphasized that the institution will produce the next generation of agricultural scientists and innovators.
Highlighting the institution’s history, THE WHISTLER reports that it began as Our Lady of Lourdes Teachers Training College, Iwollo, was renamed Enugu State College of Agriculture and Agro-Entrepreneurship in 2009, upgraded to Enugu State Polytechnic in 2014, and is now on course to becoming a full-fledged university.
Former rector Prof. Moses Okonkwo urged staff and students to embrace the challenges of the transition, describing it as a fundamental shift from applying knowledge to creating it. He stressed that the change requires a cultural and pedagogical evolution, balancing practical skills with rigorous research and innovation to address global agricultural challenges.
Other speakers, including former Education Commissioner Dr. Festus Ozor, praised Governor Mbah for actualizing an age-long dream, while the traditional ruler-elect of Aguobu Iwollo, Engr. Charles Aliozo, assured the institution of the host community’s total support. He encouraged the graduates to deploy their skills as entrepreneurs, researchers, and problem-solvers to tackle issues such as food security and climate change.
The event, which also witnessed the naming of the institution’s main access road after renowned scholar Professor Chiweyite Ejike, was attended by several dignitaries, including former Deputy Governor Rt. Hon. Cecilia Ezeilo, representatives of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), and the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu.
With campuses planned for Owo and Uzo-Uwani, the new university is expected to transform Enugu’s agrarian heritage into an engine of prosperity and innovation, fulfilling the state’s vision of a smarter, greener, and food-secure future.