From Tony Osauzo, Benin
The Vice Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, Prof. Lawrence Ezemonye, yesterday, announced that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will lead two former Presidents to grace the University’s 25th founder’s day anniversary.
Professor Ezemonye who announced this at a World Press conference as part of week-long activities for the anniversary, explained that the President would grace the occasion as Special Guest of Honour, former President Goodluck Jonathan, as chairman while General Abdulsalam Abubakar, retd, as Guest of Honour.
Besides, he said several speakers have been invited to speak on the 25th anniversary colloquium titled, “Re-imagining Tertiary Education for Africa’s Present and future Realities”.
He stated that May 10, 1999, the founding day of the University, marks remarkable milestones in the history of private tertiary institutions in Nigeria, adding that the university had in the past 25 years evolved into a beacon of intellectual repository and a crucible for innovation and nurturing ground for further leaders and game changers.
“By May, this year, it will be exactly 25 years since that epochal event. The university achieved this significant milestones through the extraordinary vision and mission of the founder and proprietor, Chief Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion.
“Since inception, the university has achieved remarkable successes in teaching, research, capacity building, innovative studies and perhaps most significant, the production of exceptional graduates in diverse fields of human endeavour who are contributing their quota to national and global development.
“The growth trajectory witnessed have been driven by a culture of innovation, creativity, adaptability, digital literacy, technological fluency, relentless commitment of the Board of Regents, governing council among others.
Ezemonye who reeled out some of the several achievements of the institution since its inception, added that the Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman, Prof Mohamed Bellhocine, AU Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation would be among the speakers at the occasion.
Other speakers listed are His Excellency, Shri.G. Balasubramanian, High Commissioner of India to Nigeria among others.
The Vice Chancellor disclosed that the University started with 5 faculties ,115 student enrollment at inception, but that the institution now has 7 faculties and over 7,000 male and female students.
“Igbinedion University Okada, from a modest figure of 115 enrolment at inception, we now have over 7,000 male and female students on campus.
“The academic departments/programmes have witnessed exponential increase from 7 at inception to 85, made up of 34 undergraduate and 51 postgraduate programmes. We have produced over 16,000 graduates across disciplines spread across the globe, with records of stellar performances in their respective fields of endeavour. All courses/programmes are fully accredited not only by the National Universities Commission (NUC) but also by relevant professional bodies”, he said.
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