Brief History
The University of Benin was founded in 1970. It started as an Institute of Technology and was accorded the status of a full-fledged University by National Universities Commission (NUC) on 1st July, 1971. In his Budget Speech in April 1972, the then Military Governor of Mid-Western State, Col. S. O. Ogbemudia (then also Visitor to the University) formally announced the change of the name of the Institute of Technology to the University of Benin. On 1st April, 1975 the University at the request of the State Government, was taken over by the Federal Government and became a Federal University.
Today, the University has continued to grow from strength to strength with a number of Faculties, Departments, Institutes and Units. Following NUC’s directives, the University experimented with the Collegiate System in 1991/92 and 1992/93.
Faculties
- Faculty of Arts
- Faculty of Education
- Faculty of Engineering
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Management sciences
- Faculty of Life Sciencess
- Faculty of Pharmacy
- Faculty of Physical Sciences
- Faculty of Sch. of Basic Med. Science
- Faculty of Sch. of Dentistry
- Faculty of Sch. of Medicine
- Faculty of Social Sciences
In January 2006, the Federal Government approved the take off of the College of Petroleum and Gas Engineering of the University of Benin at Effurun, near Warri, in Delta State, with the initial population of 100 students in two departments; Petroleum Engineering and Gas Engineering. The University offers courses at various levels: Postgraduate, Undergraduate, Diploma and Certificate. Presently, the total student enrollment stands at over 40,000 made up of both full-time and part-time students shared among the various Faculties. In 1985, Grace Alele-Williams became Nigeria’s first female vice-chancellor when she was appointed to head the University of Benin. She served as its vice-chancellor until 1991. The University is also famous for ground breaking research work with other universities around the world and with both local and international bodies such as USAID, Ford Foundation, UNCF (United Negro College Fund), RMRDC (Raw Materials Research & Development Council of Nigeria) amongst others in the areas of Agriculture, Public Health and Engineering to name a few.
The University Anthem
ARISE MIGHTY UNIBEN
- verse 1 All over the wide wide world
Our fruitful works unfurl;
What we sow’d with joy and pride
with good our common goal
One heart and voice for all,
we need the purple clarion call.
Refrain: Arise mighty UNIBEN
Robed in your purple and gold
clad in your fertile green hem
Knowledge for service untold
- Between blue sky and red soil
Excellent hard work endure
We groom man adn nation in
Spirits of Unibest pure
Come through our opened gate
Where fair play and merit dictate.
Refrain: Arise mighty UNIBEN …..
- God bless this our noble school
As we bid peace to reign
May we have no cause to mourn
But rejoice in gains achieved
We hope for place man will
Bring brain and brawn to build self still.
Refrain: Arise mighty UNIBEN …..
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