The University of Benin has churned out 385 First Class graduates from the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 academic sessions of the institution, respectively.
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Lilian Salami, disclosed this at the pre-49th/50th convocation and 54th Founders’ Day media briefing in Benin.
Giving the breakdown of the academic prowess in the years under review, Prof. Salami said, that for the 2021/2022 academic session, 206 students bagged First Class while 179 students made First Class in the 2022/2023 session, making a total of 385 from both sessions.
She said that 3,658 made Second Class Upper in the 2021/2022 academic session, while 3,324 made Second Class Upper for the 2022/2023 academic session.
Salami also said that 297 bagged their PhD in the 2021/2022 academic session and 54 others graduated with their PhD in the 2022/2023.
Speaking on the activities of the event, the outgoing VC said the event is going to begin on Wednesday, 20th, with a novelty football match between the staff of the University and that of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH).
She said the former governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, would deliver a lecture, titled “The Poor also Deserve Education: Our Founding Heroes’ Legacies in Educational Equity and Equality.”
She noted further that it is gratifying to state that the University of Benin continues to beam its searchlight internally and nationwide to identify and honour distinguished personalities found worthy to be conferred with the recognition as Professors Emeritus and Honorary Doctorate Degrees.
She said seven distinguished professors have been approved by the Senate of the university to be recipients of the honour of Professors Emeriti at this year’s convocation, vis-a-vis Professor Nosakhare Odeh Eghafona, Professor of Virology and Medical Microbiology; Professor Felix E. Okeimen, Professor of Chemistry and former Dean of Postgraduate studies, Professor Patrick Edobor Igbinovia, Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice.
She listed others as Professor Ikponmwosa Owie, Professor of Health Education, Professor Augustine Osemwegie Obasohan, Professor of Medicine and Consultant/Cardiologist, as well as Former Chief Medical Director of UBTH, Professor Friday Ebhodaghe Okonofua, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, as well as Centre Lead of the University’s Centre of Excellence in Reproductive Health Innovation (CERHI), Professor V. J. Ikhatua, Professor of Animal Science.
For the university’s honorary doctorate, she said that the Senate of the university also gave its nod to three personalities. They are:
Chief Leemon Ikpea, CON; Oil, Gas and construction company Magnate who is to be conferred with Doctor of Business Administration in acknowledgement of his accomplishments in Business and support to the University, Dr. Kingsley Momodu; a distinguished alumnus and renown Dentist who will be conferred with Honorary Doctor of Science. Dr. Momodu has been exemplary in mobilising resources and facilities for the University while the third person is the foremost entrepreneur and Chairman, VESA Fisheries, Mrs. Veronica Igbe.
She is to be honoured with the Honorary Doctor of Business Administration in recognition of her enterprise and pioneering role in the industrial fishery business in Nigeria as well as her philanthropy.