Today the prestigious University of Benin (UNIBEN) announced the appointment of its new Vice Chancellor. He is Professor Edoba Bright Omoregie. He is a Professor of Comparative Constitutional Law and Legislative Governance and also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). He attended Edokpolor Grammar School Benin City and the University of Benin and has been a Lecturer at Uniben since January 1998. He takes the saddle from Prof. Lillian Imuetinyan Salami whose tenure as VC ends on 1^st December 2024.

UNIBEN was established on the 23rd of November 1970, by the then Brig-General Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia-led military administration of Midwest State. The University was established, first as Midwest Institute of Technology. After attaining the status of a full-fledged university in line with requirements of the National Universities Commission on the 1st of July 1971, the name was changed to the University of Benin. The Institution became a federal government owned University on the 1st of April 1975.

The University, which commenced academic activities with 109 students at the site of the Old Teachers’ Training College on Ekehuan Road (which is now one of the campuses of the University – Ekehuan Campus) now has an estimated 60,000 students population who are spread across the two campuses of the University. The University has 15 Faculties, 1 College and 3 Institutes.

The University has been headed by one rector and 11 Vice Chancellors. They are:

• Prof. Glynn Phillips – 1970 – 1972
• Prof. Kenneth Hill – 1972 – 1973
• Prof. John Harris – 1973 – 1974
• Prof. Tijani Yusuf – 1974 – 1979
• Prof. Adamu Baike – 1979 – 1985
• Prof. Grace Alele-Williams – 1985 – 1992
• Prof. Andrew Onokerhoraye – 1992 – 1999
• Prof. Abhulimen Anao – 1999 – 2004
• Prof. Emmanuel Nwanze – 2004 – 2009
• Prof. Osayuki Oshodin – 2009 – 2014
• Prof. Osasere Orumwense – 2014 – 2019
• Prof. Lilian Salami 2019 – 2024
• Prof. Edoba Omoregie 2024 -

As a result of the University’s innovative and academic strides as well as accomplishments, the Institution has been designated Centres of Excellence in the following areas:

1. Centre of Excellence in Reproductive Health Innovation (CERHI) – sponsored by the World Bank.
2. Centre of Excellence in Geosciences and Engineering – sponsored by Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria.
3. Centre of Excellence in Aquaculture and Food Technology – sponsored by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).
4. Centre of Excellence in Innovations and Research Development – sponsored by TETFund.
5. Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Procurement, Environmental and Social Standards Enhancement (SPESSE) – sponsored by the World Bank.

With an estimated 350,000 alumni, the Institution has continued to display its greatness which is evident in the human capital it has produced for Nigeria and the world. On a global scale, the alumni of the University are setting worthy and commendable examples in many spheres of human endeavour.   Since the establishment of the University, it has continued to break new grounds in the realization of its goals of teaching, learning, research and community service. It undertakes programmes at various levels of graduate and postgraduate, for which students are admitted annually.  

The entire team here at www.twin2.org wishes Professor Edoba Bright Omoregie a successful tenure.