Abia State University of Nigeria, which was found in 1981, witnessed the installation of its 7th Substantive Vice-Chancellor, Professor E. Uche Ikonne, in December, 2015. As part of his Mission “to establish a responsible leadership that will expand the academic base of the institution through the promotion of entrepreneurial studies that will equip our graduates with skills and competencies fit for effective contribution to the 21st century activities of the globe…”, the Vice – Chancellor saw a gap between the potentials of the nation’s sprawling commercial and industrial hub especially in Aba – now designated the micro, small and medium scale enterprises by the federal Government – and the programmes on offer at the university. He therefore saw the need to actualize the long – nursed dream of a faculty of Engineering in the University.
Acting on the think – tank’s feasibility recommendation, and the approvals of the University’s Curriculum Committee and Senate in 2016, the National Universities Commission gave a provisional approval for its commencement. With internal and external funding, the Faculty of Engineering building was readied within five months. The faculty comprises four programmes: Mechanical Engineering, Electrical/Electronics Engineering, Computer Engineering and ICT. The first set of students totalling 232 were successfully enrolled in the various programmes in 2016/2017 academic session, which started in September, 2016.
Furthermore, the university had also entered into a memorandum of understanding with Monier Construction Company (MCC) – one of the leading Enginnering firms in Nigeria for the hands-on components of our Engineering programmes.
The commencement of the long-awaited faculty of Engineering in the past six months, for us, is a wow achievement story in Abia State University.