BIU Holds 2015/2016 Staff Orientation
Committed to training and retraining of its teaming staff, the Management of Benson Idahosa University on Wednesday August 26, 2015 organized a one day orientation programme for its staff members in preparation for the 2015/2016 academic session.
Highlighting the achievements of the 2014/2015 academic session, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ernest B. Izevbigie, in his welcome speech expressed his appreciation to God as well as to the University Council, Management and Staff for their commitment, hard work and dedication towards the successful completion and achievements recorded in the last academic year. He said, though the year was not devoid of its challenges, the University through God was able to move ahead.
Reassuring all of a greater 2015/2016 academic session, Prof. Izevbigie charged the staff to focus on the new things ahead, by looking away from the past successes.
Speaking on the topic, “Leading the Change versus the Status Quo”, the President of the Institution, Bishop F.E. Benson Idahosa II, enjoined the staff to see themselves as members of the BIU family, adding that for Benson Idahosa University to continue to lead the change in the new academic session, staff members must be determined to be the change in order to lead the change, while identifying the status quo as an enemy.
Speaking further, the President reassured staff members of Management’s commitment to continue to invest in its workforce in the areas of research development, sponsorships to conferences, seminars and workshops within and outside the country, adding that in the last academic session, the university spent over seventeen million (17 million) naira for training of some of its staff members locally and internationally. He however said that Management plans to triple this achievement as the university moves from good to great in the 2015/2016 academic session, while calling on staff members to reciprocate similar gesture by way of working towards the collective vision, mission, mandate and core values of the Institution.
Other speakers include; the Director of Campus Life Division, Rev Laurie Idahosa who spoke on, ‘#ESE’. The Campus Life Director spoke on the need for staff members to develop good communication skills, be well organized, work as team players as well as create an attractive, friendly and welcoming environment for the students in order to earn their trust and confidence, adding that ‘#ESE’ simply means, “Excellent Student Experience”. On his part, the University Council Boss, Engr. G.O. Isibor urged the staff members to be committed to the commission establishing the university rather than the addition. According to him, “hard work never goes unrewarded”, while calling on all to learn from the life of the biblical Joseph. He also enjoined the staff to set big, realistic and achievable goals in the forth – coming academic session as the university moves from good to great.
Emotional Intelligence as well as Communication Style” was delivered by Mr. Harry Obioma from Poise Nigeria. Stress Reduction Technique was presented by the Leadership Institute of the Church of God Mission International (CGMi), while the “CGMi Tenets of Faith was delivered by Rev. Ike Ofili. The CGMi Tenants of Faith is a statement of faith or belief system of the Ministry (CGMi), of which BIU is an arm.
Special prayers were offered for the BIU delegates who represented the institution as the only delegates from Nigeria at the just concluded World Science Conference in Israel where they bag the Israeli Government Award Fellowships to study for their post graduate degrees in the Hebrew University.