ESUT VC Aloysius Okolie Commissions 60KVA Solar Power Donated by Class of 1999 to Chemical Engineering

In a boost to sustainable campus infrastructure and enhancement of learning and research, the Vice-Chancellor of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Professor Aloysius-Michaels Okolie, has officially commissioned a brand new 60KVA Solar Power Inverter System project donated to the Department of Chemical Engineering.

The eco-friendly power installation was funded and donated entirely by the ESUT Chemical Engineering Class of 1999 as a giving-back initiative to mark over two decades since their graduation.

The newly installed solar energy system is designed to provide uninterrupted power to the department's critical infrastructure, including laboratories, lecture rooms, and staff offices.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony held on Thursday at the main Campus, Prof Okolie expressed immense gratitude to the alumni and praised their foresight in choosing renewable energy, noting that it directly aligns with the university's transition toward smart, sustainable campus solutions.

"This donation is a shining example of alumni responsibility," the VC stated. "By ensuring constant power supply to the Chemical Engineering department, our researchers and students can now conduct experiments and attend lectures without the disruption of power outages."

The VC while disclosing that the university doesn't owe the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company a dime on electricity bill, also used the occasion to apologise, on behalf of the university, to any of the graduates who were wrongly treated while they were undergraduates.

"Let me state it here that the university is not owing EEDC a dime. We pay our bills as and when due, both here and in the College. Unfortunately, we don't get service for our payment and this is why your intervention is timely. 

"I also want to apologise to the graduates, your 1999 set who might have been aggrieved as a result of how they were treated while they were undergraduates. Please we ask for your forgiveness. I am also giving them assurance that the system has changed because we have sanitised the university. Once we get reports of unethical conduct by any staff, such person is gone. We have documents of those who have left the university on this regard" the VC said. 

Earlier in her opening address, the Head, Department of Chemical Engineering, Associate Professor Ejikeme Ebere Monica, appreciated the management for its unwavering support and expressed deep gratitude to the Class of 1999 for coming to the rescue of the department.

"I stand here to thank the management led by the VC for your continued support and providing me with the opportunity to contribute my little quota to the growth of the university. To my adorable Class of 1999 graduates of this great department, I lack words to express my feelings. 

"In the process of getting sponsors for this project, I contacted many sets but I was not successful. When I contacted the set through their president, she told me 'we shall see what we can do', and today, they have built this great legacy for the department. Thank you," she said. 

In her remarks, the President, Class of 1999 Graduates of Chemical Engineering Department, ESUT, Engr. Rita Offor said the project represents the collective bond of the donors and expressed willingness to continue to support the department in particular and the university in general 

"Today is more than just the unveiling of a solar energy system; it is the celebration of a journey that began decades ago. A few years ago, as we reflected on our journey and our roots, we asked ourselves an important question: 'How can we give back to the department that helped shape our future?'

"The answer brought us here today.

We recognized that stable electricity is essential for quality learning, innovation, research, and technological advancement. From that shared vision came the idea of this Solar Power Project—a project designed not only to provide reliable power, but also to inspire future engineers toward green and sustainable energy solutions.

"We sincerely appreciate the leadership of the Head of Department and university management for partnering with us and supporting the successful execution of this project. We hope to sustain the support. 

"To the students, this project is dedicated to you. We hope it enhances your learning environment, supports your academic pursuits, and remind you that you too have the power to create positive change wherever you find yourselves in the future.

"As we handover and commission this Solar Power Project today, may it symbolize light, innovation, sustainability, may it power learning, inspire innovation, and illuminate greatness," she said 

Representatives of the Class of 1999 who spoke with ESUT Monitor during the handover ceremony, stated that the gesture was born out of a collective desire to solve pressing infrastructure challenges and give back to the department that shaped their professional careers.