The President and Visitor of University Benin (UNIBEN), Bola Tinubu, has commended the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Edoba Omoregie, SAN, for keying into the Federal government’s priority programme of technical and Vocational education in tertiary institutions and upscaling hands on students entrepreneurship.
Tinubu disclosed this at the 51st Convocation and 55th Founders’ day Ceremonies of the University Benin City where he graduands were awarded degrees.
His speech was read by his representative and Vice Chancellor, University of Port Harcourt, Professor Owunari Abraham Georgewill at the event, which drew the creme of society on Saturday.
He said the mainstreaming of Vocational literacy and introduction of various technical training programmes in the University of Benin is a forward-looking initiative that aligns with his administration’s programme designed to cultivate practical skills, enterprise and innovation.
President Tinubu revealed that 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.
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor, University of Benin, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, SAN stated that the past eleven months of his administration have witnessed a quantum leap in the successful delivery of set goals in the spheres of academics, Infrastructural development, staff and students welfare and in Community service.
He identified them as Centre for Continuing Legal Education (CCLE), Vocational and Technical Training Programme (VTTP), and resuscitation of the moribund UNIBEN Block Molding Factory in addition to strengthening the University’s African Institute for Management and leadership through synergy with the Edo State Government to train personnel of the Edo State Internal Revenue Service on effective and transparent revenue collection and operational efficiency.
The Institute, according to the Vice Chancellor, is also finalising collaboration arrangement with the National Assembly for capacity building training in different aspects of leadership and management.
He also revealed that one of the five-point agenda to increase capacity-building potentials, following the setting up special professional centres and units have been created while hitherto moribund vocational ventures have been resuscitated.
“Our objectives have been aptly articulated in our Five – point Agenda which constitute the road map of this administration”, according to him, “For reason of emphasis, we enumerate the Five-point Agenda, which include
strengthening the degree programmes in line with emerging national as well as global trends.
The development he said has repositioned the University of Benin as an innovative capacity building and skills acquisition hub across professions, disciplines and vocations, include the recently launched new vocational training programme anchored by the Vocational and Technical Training Programme VTTP.
Prof. Omoregie explained that VTTP captioned: “Fundamentals of Automobile Service and Periodic Maintenance Training Programme” for engineering students of the University, which is also currently building the capacity of over 200 artisanal trainees under a programme sponsored by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF).
The training cuts across many areas of skills such as tailoring, Carpentry, Catering, event Planning, Hair-dressing, and others, making the University a training hubs reflect the institution’s commitment to producing graduates who are not only academically competent but also, industry-ready.
He stated further that the event, which marks another milestone in the life of our University and especially for our graduating students who have toiled to attain the present goal post of success, highlighted notable breakthroughs the University of Benin has recorded since he became the helmsman of the institution.
In his goodwill message at the event, the Chancellor, University of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Orcivirigh, Professor James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse, said the University of Benin has been transformed through various programmes and policies of the Federal Government.
He explained that the major interventions by the federal government includes establishment of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) Scheme, students’ loan initiative, which has provided accessibility to 800,000 beneficiaries so far.
The University Chancellor gave a thump up to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), which has fast tracked projects execution, provision of infrastructure, capacity building and research innovations is impacting tertiary education in ways that are far beyond what the founders of the Fund ever envisaged.
The University of Benin has benefited immensely from these federal government’s interventions, according to him, while in 2025 alone, the University of Benin, secured government’s approval in the expansion of Medical Programmes and Facilities.
The federal government initiative is in addition to the approval of new hostels and renovation of existing ones, as well as the installation of Hybrid Solar Mini-Grid Electricity in addition to the Federal Executive Council’s approval of a new Senate Building and release of funds for the project, currently under construction.
“Despite these commendable efforts, a lot still needs to be done. We, therefore, appeal to the federal government to address the severe funding challenges in the education sector by increasing budgetary allocation to education to meet the recommended international standards.
“This will help reduce significantly the current ‘brain drain’ that is making Nigeria lose her best scholars – a situation that further exacerbates academic staff shortages and negative impact on the quality of education”, the Chancellor said.
On his part, Professor Shuaibu Umaru, Pro-chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, University of Benin, called on Nigerians to support the federal government economic reforms, which he acknowledged though met with hardship, but expected to lay new foundations for sustainable growth.
“We are currently witnessing a period of significant, though challenging transformation. The recent reforms, though met with hardship, are expected to lay new foundations for sustainable growth”, according to him.
