The problem we have here is the students are lazy in practical – Dean, faculty of Engineering

Q.ESUT Press – Introduction?
My name is Prof. James Eke, from Umumah L.G.A., Rivers State. I am a Professor of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, formal head of Department, Electrical and Electronics Engineering.

Q. ESUT Press – How has it been since assumption of office as the Dean of Engineering?
As everybody knows, am just starting. Am still meeting people, making few appointment to ensure that things works well.

Q. ESUT Press – Some engineering students are complaining that some of the labs are under-equipped?
We have equipment that are yet to be installed in some of the labs. We may not have all the high-tech equipment, but all the basic equipment for engineering are here and the current administration are really doing their best to provide more equipment. Civil engineering will be having accreditation few weeks from now and the Vice Chancellor have endorse to provide all they need to pass the accreditation. The problem we have here is that some of the students are lazy in practical, they don’t come for practical that is why they are not exposed to this machines. Like I said before, we may not have sophisticated equipment but all the basic ones are here.

Q. ESUT Press – Any plan in bringing more companies or automobile companies here?
Yes, presently, I have set up two committees, they are, committee on Faculty consultancy and committee on Alumini. This two committees has one idea, which is to bring tech entrepreneurs to this faculty and they are already in talk with some of this company, for them to come and see what we have. Some of the ex students of the faculty who are doing well in engineering world have expressed their desire to partner with us so that their alma-mater will be what it ought to be. Engineering faculty is the premier faculty in ESUT.

Q. ESUT Press – What are the three things you would like to change as the Dean?
One, I want to bring engineering to what it ought to be in our faculty. I was part of the university when it was Asutech and our students then was making waves in the country, they never came second in any competition, we developed the first computer series for Nitel, so my effort is to see we go back to that realm. Two, I want to see a place we will call College of Engineering block like we have in college of medicine. We are fragmented, our staff, students and department are not in one place, so I want to see a structure that will bring all of us together. And thirdly, I want to see the university invest in proper researching in engineering.

Q. ESUT Press – Challenges so far?
Well, I like to told you, am just starting. I am yet to do anything, is when I start doing something I will know if there is any challenge. There is no task, that has no challenge. Deanship is a task, so I expect to face challenges in executing my plan.