By Peter.
Benin City, November 30, 2025 – President Bola Tinubu has singled out the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin, Professor Edoba Omoregie, SAN, for commendation, describing his aggressive push for technical and vocational education as a perfect alignment with the Federal Government’s agenda to equip Nigerian graduates with practical, job-ready skills.
Speaking at UNIBEN’s combined 51st Convocation and 55th Founders’ Day ceremony on Saturday, President Tinubu (represented by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Owunari Georgewill) praised the VC’s flagship Artisan Training Programme in partnership with the Industrial Training Fund (ITF).
“The mainstreaming of vocational literacy and introduction of various technical training programmes reflect the spirit of transformation that is the education hallmark of this administration,” the President declared.
Key Highlights from the President Celebrated
- Creation of five new faculties
- NUC approval of 15 brand-new academic programmes
- Smooth 2024/2025 academic session with zero disruptions
- Massive jump in postgraduate output: 1,790 higher-degree graduands (over 600% increase from 241 the previous year)
- Total first-degree graduands: 14,083
VC Omoregie’s One-Year Scorecard (Five-Point Agenda)
- Strengthen degree programmes to meet global standards
- Reposition UNIBEN as a skills acquisition & innovation hub
- Prioritise staff and student welfare
- Massive infrastructure upgrade (multiple power sources, high-speed internet, hostel renovations, eco-friendly projects)
- Peaceful industrial harmony with unions and host communities
Professor Omoregie told the gathering that “visible successes are being recorded daily” and promised even greater strides ahead.
Royal & Council Endorsements
- Chancellor, His Royal Majesty Orcivirigh Prof. James Ayatse (Tor Tiv), applauded President Tinubu’s seven-year moratorium on new universities, saying it will allow government to “consolidate resources and raise standards in existing institutions.”
- Pro-Chancellor Prof. Shuaibu Umaru revealed UNIBEN has produced over 370,000 graduates since becoming a full-fledged university, all in strict compliance with NUC guidelines.
With skills acquisition now a national priority, UNIBEN under Prof. Omoregie is clearly leading the charge — proving that Nigerian universities can produce not just certificate holders, but innovators, artisans, and entrepreneurs ready for the 21st-century economy.
#UNIBENAt55 #SkillsRevolution #TinubuCommendsUNIBEN #VocationalEducation #NigerianUniversitiesRising
