A former Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN; Edo First Lady, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki; and five others, will on November 25 this year be honoured with the prestigious and coveted honourary doctoral degrees of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), at the Federal Government-owned university’s 48th convocation.
The other eminent personalities to be honoured during UNIBEN’s 53rd Founders’ Day include Chief Charles Owensuyi–Edosomwan, SAN; Olukayode Dotun-Adegbulugbe; Osaro Isokpan; Gbenga Olu Komolafe, an engineer; and Paul Enebeli, a pharmacist.
UNIBEN’s tenth substantive Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Lilian Salami, who made the disclosure at the higher institution’s Senate Chamber, during media briefing, disclosed that 178 students bagged first class.
She revealed that on November 23, there would be convocation lecture, titled: “Governance and Crisis of Development in Nigeria,” to be delivered by a former Vice-Chancellor of Veritas University, Abuja. Prof. Mike Kwanashie.
Salami, the second female vice-chancellor of UNIBEN, disclosed that on November 24, there would be award of first degrees, diplomas, certificates and presentation of prizes, with the 48th convocation to climax on November 25, with the award of higher degrees, postgraduate diplomas and the conferment of honourary doctorate on the outstanding Nigerians.
She said: “It is gratifying and something to be proud of that four of the doctoral honourees are illustrious alumni of UNIBEN (including Fashola), who have been exemplary in serving the university and the country.
“Since the last convocation, so much has been accomplished by this administration in the spheres of academics and infrastructure development. This is in spite of the numerous challenges that have resulted in the operation of two sessions in one year, in order for students not to lose valuable academic milestones. This has happened at great costs, sacrifices and commitment by all staff, especially academic staff of the university. Even the students have exhibited resilience. We salute them all.
“At this 48th convocation, 14,254 graduands of the 2020/2021 academic session will be conferred with first degrees, diplomas and certificates in all the faculties and schools of the university.
“At the post-graduate level, the university’s Senate approved 4,045 results, including 545 Doctor of Philosophy degrees, 2,697 Masters and 804 Post-Graduate Diplomas. We congratulate all the graduands, and urge them to fly the university’s flag higher.”
The vice-chancellor also stated that the accomplishments could not have been achieved, without the commitment of staff, and the deliberate efforts by management to put in place requisite academic infrastructure that ensured that graduates of UNIBEN continued to shine and to positively influence their world.
She said the university could boast of cutting–edge Information Communications Technology (ICT), advancement of its centres of excellence, successful accreditation of UNIBEN’s programmes and courses by the National University’s Commission (NUC), and other professional bodies, as well as compliance with the New National Education Policy on Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS), and provision of modern infrastructure.
Salami noted that staff of the higher institution’s academic planning unit worked round the clock to ensure that UNIBEN meets all academic requirements to attract high global assessment and ranking, while the welfare of staff and students of the university had also been top on the agenda of the management.