“Microbes; The Good, The bad and the Fascinating: Man the Effective Manager”, that was the topic of 8th Inaugural Lecture delivered by Prof. Clara Leyibo Igeleke at the main Auditorium of the University.

Delivering her lecture, Prof. Igeleke brought to bear the fact that microbes are not all bad. According to her, they are ubiquitous, being everywhere, living on man, animals, plants, the environment and inanimate object.

She mentioned that Microbes form part of the ecological diversity of the ecosystem, the good, the bad and the fascinating.

She said: “Humans cannot live without microbes, but with knowledge, they can be effectively managed and exploited to the benefit of man in diverse spheres such as agriculture, medicine, biotechnology, environmental cleaning, oil spillage clean-up, food sources and supplements.”

The University don during the lecture made some recommendations which include that Nigerians should make concerted efforts to keep their environments clean in order to avoid being overwhelmed by microbes. She also advocated that State and Local Governments should provide proper storage facilities for farmers to enhance prolonged storage of agricultural products, which would ensure agricultural food supply all year round for Nigerian citizens

At the Federal Government level, the Professor of Phytopathohgenic Microbiology advised that the Federal Government should include private universities on the list of beneficiaries of financial assistance and aids to enhance meaningful researches.

In his address, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sam Guobadia, informed the audience on the recent happenings in the campuses.  He congratulated the inaugural lecturer, noting that inaugural lectures were avenues through which scholars educate the public about their various achievements in research and learning.

He thanked Prof. Igeleke for delivering the 8th inaugural lecture of the University which he described as important and thoughtful.

Concluding the lecture, the inaugural lecturer was decorated with an inaugural lecture medal.

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Benson Idahosa University and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), on Wednesday, October 30, 2019, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under the ICAN Mutual Cooperation Agreement with Tertiary Institutions (MCATI), which exempts undergraduate Accountancy students of Benson Idahosa University from 11 subjects of ICAN’s professional examination.

According to the ICAN President, Mazi Nnamdi Okwuadigbo, the ICAN MCATI’s is aimed at deepening the standards of learning and dissemination of knowledge of accounting in Nigerian tertiary institutions.

He said, “I encourage you to continue to raise the standards higher as we all collectively work at strengthening the human capital base in our country. Undoubtedly, today’s event is an endorsement of the quality of your institutions’ accounting education.”

“Accounting graduated from your institutions will now study using the integrated ICAN/NUC/NBTE approved accounting curriculum. Your accounting graduates will now be granted 11 subject exemptions as against seven subjects’ exemption under the normal ICAN accreditation scheme.”

Okwuadigbo added that the offer represents full exemptions from Foundation and Skills levels of ICAN Professional Examinations.

It will be recalled that in 2018, the MCATI committee, led by Chief Oye Akinsulire paid a visit to the university to assess the dissemination of accounting knowledge to students and to improve their accounting experience and competency

Reacting to the news, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sam Guobadia in his remarks described the feat as a welcome development as the University has continued to demonstrate capacity in learning.

Prof. Guobadia who expressed delight in the new partnership, acknowledged the professionalism that ICAN has been identified with over time, re-iterating that the institute should not relent in its pivotal role in national development. He added that the institution would fulfill its part of the agreement as it is not only training the students in academics but also professional competence.

At the meeting were the Registrar, Dr. Michael Okagbare; Dean, School of Postgraduate Studies, Professor Johnson Oyedeji and The Acting Head, Department of Accounting, Dr. S.N Ugbogbo.

The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Benson Idahosa University and seven other institutions of higher learning.

The event, which took place on Friday, August 23, 2019 at the headquarters of the Institute in Lagos, will ensure the placement of students from Benson Idahosa on a better pedestal in securing jobs upon graduation.

The MoU will see to the commencement of activities towards making Benson Idahosa University students enjoy automatic exemption from certain subjects upon graduation to become Associate Members of the Chartered Institute of Bankers (ACIB).

The CIBN also presented Certificate of Accreditation to Benson Idahosa University on linkage agreement with the institute.

Other tertiary institutions that were presented with the Certificate of Accreditation are: Adekunle Ajasin University, Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic, Ambrose Alli University, Federal University of Agriculture, Gombe State University, Igbinedion University, and Yusuf Maitama Sule University.

The President, CIBN, Dr. Uche Olowu, while presenting the certificates to the representatives of the universities, said the accreditations and the linkage agreements were part of the institute’s effort to enhance professionalism in the banking industry.

He said the institutions had undergone rigorous processes and scored above the minimum threshold on all the parameters of measurement.

He stressed that apart from addressing competency challenges, the accreditation exercise was to enthrone a minimum standard for practitioners in the industry. He added, “This accreditation carries a definite tenure. Subsequent renewal would depend on the level of performance and the extent to which parties keep faith with the provisions of the Agreement.”

In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor of Benson Idahosa University, Professor Sam Guobadia, said it is a remarkable feat worth celebrating.  According to him, the accreditation is in line with the university’s vision to become a world class university.

Present as part of the University’s entourage to the signing ceremony were the Registrar, Dr. M.J Okagbare, and the Head of Department, Banking and Finance, Dr. L.N Aisien.

Forty three (43) students of Benson Idahosa University will be graduating with First Class Honours among 741 students as the university holds its 15th convocation ceremonies.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof Sam Guobadia, made this disclosure during a press briefing.

He said 741 students will be graduating this year. 593 with baccalaureate degrees and 148 with Post graduate degrees. The Vice Chancellor mentioned that a total of 190 students finished with Second class Honours (Upper Division); 330 students with Second Class Honours (Lower Division), while 30 students will be graduating with the Third Class Honours.

He said that activities lined up for the two-day event include a convocation service scheduled for Friday, September 13^th where Bishop Basil C. Edohansim, the Bishop of Aba Bishopric, CGMI will be ministering.

According to him, Prof. Julius A. Okojie, OON, will deliver the Convocation Lecture titled “The Nigerian university system in contempt of established academic traditions: implications for quality assurance”.

The University Don further disclosed that the University will mint her first sets of Emeritus Professors in the persons of Prof. Philip A. Igbafe – Professor of History and Prof. Abhulimen R. Anao-Professor of Accounting. Also, an Honorary Doctorate degree in Business Administration (honoris causa) will be awarded to Rt. Rev. Matthew Okpebholo, JP, for his business prowess and contribution to humanity.

Prof. Guobadia also disclosed that the University is therefore certified to run the Nursing and Medical Laboratory Sciences programs beginning from this school year.

Speaking further, the Vice Chancellor expressed gratitude on behalf of the entire university community to the Chancellor for helping the university realize the goals of its founding father.

He said: “I want to appreciate the Chancellor of this great institution, Archbishop (Dr.) Margaret Benson-Idahosa, JP, OON for her immense support for our goals and realising the vision of our founding Chancellor/President, Archbishop Benson Idahosa of blessed memory”

The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), has approved the Engineering programmes offered by Benson Idahosa University.

The three (3) Engineering programmes accredited are Mechanical Engineering, Electrical/Electronic Engineering and Civil Engineering.

This was stated in a letter sent to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sam Guobadia by the Registrar of COREN, Joseph Odigure, on the 5^th of July, 2019.

The letter reads: “I write to convey the approval of the council for the regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), on the accreditation visitations to the undergraduate Engineering Programmes of your institution from 17^th-21^st March, 2019.”

The effective date of accreditation according to the Registrar was 21^st March, which would be valid for three (3) years.

Briefing the Chancellor, Archbishop Margaret Idahosa of the approval status recently attained, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sam Guobadia said it is a remarkable feat worth celebrating.  According to him, the accreditation is in line with the university’s vision to become a world class university.

As a result of this accreditation, Benson Idahosa University can continually foster speedy acquisition of relevant engineering and technological skills through continuous professionalism and development.

The National Universities Commission, (NUC), has approved the commencement of two additional courses for Benson Idahosa University (BIU). The newly approved courses are Nursing Science and Medical Laboratory Science programmes.

The approval was contained in a letter from NUC dated July 22, 2019 and addressed to the Vice Chancellor of Benson Idahosa University, Prof. Sam Guobadia.

Commenting on the approval of the courses, the Vice Chancellor hailed the NUC for approving the courses, saying it would expand the academic space of the university and further encourage them to produce leaders, who will contribute to the quality manpower for the nation and the world. He mentioned that admission into these programmes will commence immediately.

Prof. Guobadia thanked staff members for their efforts and contributions. He further praised them for their relentless effort during the resource verification exercise by NUC in June 2019.

The NUC’s approval has increased the undergraduate programmes being run in the university to 32; of which 31 have full accreditation, while one has interim accreditation.