University of Benin (Nigeria)

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

The university was founded in 1970, and teaches in a broad range of subjects, including a medical school. It has a student enrollment of about 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 it Vice-Chancellor till 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 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.

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 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. 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, Live Sciences, Physical Sciences Social Science, 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.

The Neo Black Movement of Africa was formed in 1977 at the Ekewan Campus of the university.