Vice Chancellor, Igbinedion University Okada (IUO), Prof Lawrence Ezemonye, on Wednesday showered encomiums on Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, saying history would be kind to him for making an indelible imprint on the education landscape of Nigeria.
The Business Mogul, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, who is the Esama of Benin Kingdom, founded Nigeria’s premier private university in 1999.
Speaking during the institution’s 24th Founder’s Day celebration in Okada, Edo, Ezemonye said the Founder’s feat in the annals of the history of Nigeria’s education sector remain unquantifiable.
“We celebrate the founder, Sir Chief Dr. Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, CFR, Esama of Benin Kingdom on this auspicious occasion for a dream come true.
“We revel in the ground-breaking feat that the establishment of Igbinedion University Okada, as the first private university in Nigeria represents.
“It is significant that his noble vision has forever altered the narrative of the nation’s tertiary education system for good. Indeed, history will be kind to the Honorable Chancellor for making such an indelible imprint on the education landscape of Nigeria,” he said.
At 24, the the vice chancellor said it was significant to note that the brilliant exploits of the blue-sky graduates in their various fields of endeavor across the globe evidences the quality of the University’s products.
He said this was predicated on IUO’s commitment to continually seek ways to advance knowledge and educate our students to make a difference in our society and our world.
Ezemonye noted that the institution’s educational quality was reflected in the fact that all its 34 undergraduate academic programs were duly accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and other relevant professional bodies.
NAN also reports that personalities at the Founder’s Day ceremony include former governor of Edo state and the institution’s Deputy Chancellor, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, and South Africa High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Thamsanya Dennis Mseleku, who delivered the Founder’s Day lecture titled, “Advancing Higher Education legacy through Partnership: Private Sector Engagement.
