By Ikenna Nwokedi
The Department of Electronics and Computer Engineering (ECE), Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka on Tuesday, 21st of November 2023 honoured the immediate past Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) UNIZIK Chapter, Comrade Stephen Ufoaroh during a special departmental board.
The special departmental board which was held at the Faculty of Engineering (FEG) NEEDS Assessment Building Conference hall was an occasion to perform a home coming of one of their colleague, Engr. Dr. Stephen Ufoaroh, for his selfless service and successful outing during his reign as the Chairperson, ASUU UNIZIK Branch.
In his address, UNIZIK Vice-Chancellor, commended the ECE department and the Faculty for choosing to honour and appreciate the leadership role and selfless service of Comrade Ufoaroh during his term as the leader of the Union. Prof. Esimone informed that Comrade Ufoaroh recorded tremendous success with one of the signature projects being the completion of the ASUU NAU Secretariat building.
The VC informed that Ufoaroh would be called upon in due course to render more services to the institution as the result for a productive work done is assigning of more work.
Prof. Esimone eulogized the capacity of the Department for rendering services to the University in various forms both remotely and directly one of which is the efficient and reliable solar powered installations by the Department which has stand the test of time and yielded positive results.
He informed that the University’s flagship and signpost is the Faculty of Engineering promising that the department and the faculty at large would be empowered to render more services to the institution.
On his part, the Dean of the Faculty, Engr. Prof. Solomon Nwigbo stated that Comrade Ufoaroh’s tenure as ASUU Chairperson affected the lives of many academic staff of UNIZIK positively with his leadership acumen and positive attributes.
Prof. Nwigbo commended the HOD, Engr. Prof. Kenneth Akpado and the departmental board for doing the needful by honouring Comrade Ufoaroh for a successful outing during his term as ASUU UNIZIK Chairperson.
He also thanked the Vice-Chancellor for his support to the Faculty during the recent accreditation exercise by the approval of over 40 million naira for the academic process and his unending support to the Technology Incubation Centre (TIC) headed by Engr. Prof. Chris Azubogu.
The scholar promised the VC that before the end of the year there will be a giant product from the Faculty.
Responding, the immediate past ASUU Chairperson, UNIZIK Chapter, Comrade Stephen Ufoaroh described his achievement as a collective one backed up by the support of the EXCO and Union members.
Comrade Ufoaroh averred that his reign as the Chairperson of the union was about service to humanity while admonishing leaders to look at values they will add to a system during their time in power instead of what they stand to gain from the system.
He outlined some of the projects such as the FEG NEEDS Assessment Building and many others as a product of ASUU struggles. He appreciated the ECE Department and the Faculty for the honour, prayers and support during his term.
In a separate vote of thanks by Engr. Prof. Victor Idigo and Engr. Prof. Christiana Okezie, the scholars eulogized the Vice-Chancellor for finding time to grace the occasion and his support to the Department and the Faculty at large.
They commended Comrade Ufoaroh for his leadership qualities during his days as the leader of the union while praying for God’s grace and upliftment upon him.
Others who spoke during the occasion were the current Chairperson ASUU NAU Chapter, Comrade Kingsley Ubaorji and immediate past Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Engr. Prof. Joseph Nwabanne.
Present during the occasion were the former and present EXCO members of the ASUU NAU leadership, Heads of Departments of the Faculty of Engineering, teaching and non-teaching staff of the ECE Department and the Faculty of Engineering.
