Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, has said his administration deliberately allocates over 30 per cent of the state’s annual budget to education to transform Enugu into a knowledge-based economy.

He explained that the state was already reaping the benefits of the massive investment, as reflected in the growing population of students across academic institutions.

Governor Mbah spoke at the 43rd to 50th consolidated convocation ceremony of the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu.

A total of 27,848 graduates of Ordinary National Diploma (OND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes, spanning eight academic sessions, participated in the combined convocation.

Represented by his deputy, Ifeanyi Ossai, Mbah said the government would continue to support educational development in all its ramifications.

He commended the institute and its management for the innovations and initiatives aimed at rebranding and repositioning IMT, assuring them of continued government support for the advancement of learning and infrastructure in the institution.

Addressing the graduating students, the governor urged them to strive for excellence nationally and globally, noting that IMT has remained one of the leading institutions in technological and management studies since 1965.

“All products of this institution I have personally worked with are outstanding in their chosen fields and demonstrate excellent human character,” he said.

Mbah also charged the graduates to remain good ambassadors of the institution and to give back to it as a mark of appreciation.

Earlier, the Rector of IMT, Enugu, Prof. Gozie Ogbodo, said his administration had, within one year, launched a comprehensive rebranding drive tagged “The New IMT Initiative.”

According to him, the initiative is anchored on digital transformation and smart-campus development; entrepreneurship, innovation and start-up incubation; strengthening institutional culture, discipline and academic integrity; student-centred learning and staff capacity development; as well as sustainable infrastructure and environmental responsibility.

Ogbodo disclosed that the institution had repositioned its internally generated revenue through the production of IMT bread, tissue paper and bottled water, alongside the commercialisation of its water tankers and tractor.

He added that the management team had prioritised institutional stability, transparency and inclusive governance, while strengthening internal administrative processes and accountability mechanisms.

Addressing the graduating students, the rector described the convocation as the beginning of a new chapter in their lives, noting: “Your certificates are not just credentials; they are responsibilities to society.

“The world you are entering demands integrity, creativity, resilience and lifelong learning,” he said. (The Guardian)

•Gov. Mbah