The University of Benin (UNIBEN) has welcomed a new Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, who assumed office on Monday. Omoregie, a professor of Law, takes over from Prof. Lilian Salami, whose five-year tenure ended on the same day.
In his inaugural address, Prof. Omoregie pledged to prioritize staff and students’ welfare, create a conducive working and learning environment, and revolutionize the university.
He acknowledged the challenges facing Nigerian public universities, including dwindling funding and frequent strikes, but expressed optimism that innovative solutions could help revitalize the system.
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Omoregie commended the Federal Government’s efforts to improve access to university education through the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (Tetfund). He promised to educate students about the benefits of NELFUND and encourage them to access it.
Prof. Lilian Salami, in her farewell speech, highlighted her achievements during her tenure, including training and deploying non-academic staff to fill gaps. However, she noted that more could have been achieved if the Federal Government had lifted the embargo on employment.
Salami also emphasized the challenges facing public universities, including inadequate funding, lack of personnel, and frequent strikes ¹.
As Omoregie begins his tenure, he faces the task of addressing these challenges and building on the foundation laid by his predecessor. With his commitment to prioritizing staff and students’ welfare, he is poised to make a positive impact on the university community.