UNIBEN 43rd Convocation: Vice Chancellor Lists Achievements

By Lucky Isibor

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Prof. Faraday Orumwense has enumerated the achievements of the present administration of the university under his leadership, with modern Infrastructure befitting a 21st century Ivory Tower topping the list.

The Vice Chancellor made  the assertion on Tuesday while briefing the press on the activities lined up for the 43rd Convocation and 47th Founders Day Ceremony which commences on Wednesday, 22 November.

“Infrastructural development and renewal remain a cardinal goal of the strategic vision of this administration as the provision of critical infrastructure remains a crucial issue in universities ranking.”

He listed some of the projects earmarked for commissioning on Thursday 23rd and Friday 24th November as part of activities marking the convocation to include newly constructed and furnished female hostel; centre for excellence in reproductive health innovation office building; lecture halls/seminar rooms and teaching laboratory for Faculty of Pharmacy; Faculty of Environmental Sciences Studio, Faculty of Veterinary Laboratory; 2 numbers of Main Bowl Football Pitches at site B and the newly completed and furnished library complex at Ekehuan Campus.

Professor Orumwense also listed ongoing projects in the university to include, “Faculty of Agriculture, Main Library Extension, Construction and furnishing of 2 Male hostels; Construction and furnishing of Science Laboratory Technology Department”.

The Vice Chancellor disclosed that the university’s Public Private Partnership (PPP) engagements have yielded some dividends and that the university has entered into Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and agreements with some bodies.

These include a collaborative agreement with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) on the designation of the university as a centre for the training of future accounting professionals and national leaders; exchange and linkages agreement with the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) and the exchange and linkages agreement with the University of Mississippi, USA.

A breakdown of the graduands shows that 100 would be awarded First Class; 1843 would be awarded Second Class Upper; 4607 would receive Second Class Lower; 1351 would be awarded Third Class and 1 aegrotat degree.

Others are Diploma-188; Certificates-2; Unclassified-527; Postgraduate Diploma(PGD)-152; Masters-1120 and Doctorate (Ph.D)-102, bringing to a total of 9,993 graduands.

The university will also be conferring Honorary Degrees on Prof. Grace Alele-Williams, a former Vice Chancellor of the university and Dr. George Osemwengie Agbonlahor, a business man and key player in national economy for their commitment towards the growth development of education in the country.