University of Benin (Nigeria)

The University of Benin, in Benin City, Nigeria, is one of the country's major universities.

History

The university was founded in 1970, and teaches in a broad range of subjects, including a medical school. It has a student enrollment of approximately 36,000.

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 of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria 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 1 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.

At the onset, the university was situated at Ekewan Road. In 1972,a project to build a main campus at Ugbowo and Ekosodin commenced with Engineer Daniel Uhimwen as the director. Today, the main site is at Ugbowo but some courses are still offered at the Ekewan campus.

On 1 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.

Faculties and courses

Following NUC's directives, the University experimented with the Collegiate System in 1991/92 and 1992/93. However, in the light of new developments, the University reverted to the Faculty System in January 1994. Presently; the University essentially operates the Faculty System except for the Schools of Medicine, Dentistry, Basic Medical Sciences, and Institute of Child Health, which reverted back to the Collegiate System in August 1999, with a Provost as its administrative head. The Faculties as presently constituted are those of Agriculture, Arts, Education, Engineering, Law, Pharmacy, Life Sciences, Physical sciences,Social Sciences,Management Sciences and the College of Medical Sciences.

The University offers courses at various levels: Postgraduate, Undergraduate, Diploma and Certificate. Presently, the total student enrolment stands at over 40,000 made up of both full-time and part-time students shared among the various Faculties.

Library

The University Main Library, John Harris Library, was named after the pioneer University Librarian, Prof John Harris, from New Zealand. The Library came into existence with the inception of the University in 1970 at the Ekehuan Road Campus John Harris Library is an Ultra-Modern building with central air–conditioning. The building is designed to seat about 700 readers. It provides photocopying, duplicating, laminating and binding services for readers. The library has now been computerized. Installation of other modern information technology facilities is on going. With the high increase in student population, the library has embarked on an expansion programme of Library system with the establishment of Faculty Libraries of which Ekehuan Road campus Library, Medical Library, Law, Engineering and Pharmacy Library are functional. John Harris Library extension is awaiting commissioning. The Library participates in inter-library co-operation among Nigerian academic libraries.

External links

* [http://www.uniben.edu/ University of Benin home page]
* [http://www.unibenalumniusa.com/ Unibenalumni North America website]