President Bola Tinubu has commended the Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin, Professor Edoba Omoregie, for driving major technical and vocational training programmes that align with the federal government’s education goals.
The President, represented by the Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Professor Owunari Georgewill, gave the commendation during the 51st Convocation Ceremony and the 55th Founders Day of the institution.
He said the university’s push for hands-on training reflects the direction of his administration. According to him, the “implementation of the Artisan Training Programme, in collaboration with the Industrial Training Fund, reflects the spirit of transformation that is the education hallmark of the present federal government.”
Tinubu also praised the school’s efforts to strengthen vocational literacy and expand technical learning, saying these steps would help students build practical skills, develop enterprise and grow innovation.
Speaking at the ceremony, Professor Omoregie said his administration, now almost one year old, is making steady progress under a five-point agenda. He listed the goals as strengthening degree programmes to meet global standards, turning UNIBEN into a centre for skills acquisition, improving staff and student welfare, expanding infrastructure with reliable electricity and internet access, and maintaining peaceful relations with unions and host communities.
He said the agenda is already producing results, noting that the 2024/2025 academic session has been smooth. He announced that 14,083 students graduated with first degrees, while 1,790 obtained higher degrees, which he said marked a significant jump from the last convocation’s 241 graduands.
“Many other great strides have indeed been recorded by this administration since coming on board,” he said. “For example, five new faculties have been created while fifteen new programmes were approved by the National Universities Commission.”
The Chancellor of the University, His Royal Majesty Professor James Ayatse, the Tor Tiv, praised the President for the seven-year suspension on creating new higher institutions. He said the measure would help the government focus on improving facilities and teaching quality in existing schools.
“It is expected that concentrating on existing institutions will lead to better facilities, more effective teaching and research and better quality graduates,” he said.
Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Professor Shuaibu Umaru, noted that UNIBEN has produced more than 370,000 graduates since becoming a full-fledged university. He added that the institution’s admission standards, courses and degrees remain in line with the National Universities Commission policies.
