Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State on Thursday announced full tuition scholarship for 340 engineering students of the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu.
Ugwuanyi awarded the scholarship at the fourth Distinguished Academic Lecture of IMT at the institution’s auditorium in Enugu.
The lecture was entitled: “The Place of Good Governance in Achieving Functional Science and Technology Education in Nigeria.’’
The governor said that each of the 17 council areas in the state would have 20 fresh students benefitting from the scholarship opportunity, adding that the scholarship would run for four years.
“This is one way we can translate the need for all to embrace science and technology into action in the state as we have given similar number of scholarships to engineering students in the state-owned polytechnic in Iwollo about two weeks ago,’’ he said.
In his lecture, Ugwuanyi called for concerted efforts to eliminate corruption in order to enshrine good governance in the country.
“Corruption, the most detrimental factor thwarting any form of technological and economic growth, must be brought under control if not totally eradicated.
“All cadres of professionals in the country must come together to forge a way forward and force government to make a definite commitment to technology acquisition, development, dissemination and adaptation,” he said.
The governor noted that the prevalent thinking that ‘a knowledge based on technology is only for the bright and brainy is outmoded and must be discouraged.”
“Science and technology must be seen as everybody’s business.
“I urge the private sector to borrow a leaf from the developed countries where there is robust private sector participation in science and technology education,” he said.
According to him, previous blunders in policy formulation and implementation (on science and technology) must be corrected.
Earlier, the Chairperson of the Governing Council of the institution, Mrs Ifeoma Nwobodo, had thanked the governor for investing in the institution after 36 years of neglect.
Nwobodo applauded the governor for recently approving and releasing N810 million for the upgrade of facilities in the institution.
“We are also grateful for the timely release of money for the re-accreditation of 18 courses in the institution, training of all staff in computer literacy and upgrading the environment of the institution.
“However, we are appealing to the state government through our amiable governor to provide transmitters for our radio and television studios domiciled in the Mass Communication Department,” she said.
The Rector of the institution, Prof. Austin Nweze, thanked the governor and his entourage for gracing the occasion and delivering a thought-provoking lecture.
The Chairman of the event and Group Managing Director of Access Bank Plc, Dr Herbert Wigwe, said that the bank would continue to identify with the institution in building functional education in the country.
Wigwe, who was represented by Mr Victor Etukudo, thanked the management of the institution in using the lecture to advance learning and the academic frontiers of the country. (NAN)