Benson Idahosa University



Benson Idahosa University (BIU) is a private, Christian university in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Previously named Christian Faith University (CFU), it was renamed in honor of Archbishop Benson Idahosa, a Charismatic Pentecostal minister from Benin City, Nigeria, and reflects his evangelical beliefs. He was the first president of the university. The current president of Benson Idahosa University, Rt. Rev. (Dr.) Faith Emmanuel Benson Idahosa, son of Benson Idahosa, is the Bishop of CGMi Faith Arena and Co-ordinator, Next Generation Leadership of the Church of God Mission.

BIU is accredited by Nigeria's higher education accreditation body, the National Universities Commission(NUC).It is the only university in Africa with international membership with the United States National Academy of Inventors. Benson Idahosa University has maintained an enviable record in sports. BIU has maintained the best performance by any private university in Nigeria in all editions of Nigerian Private Universities Games, Nigerian Universities Games and West African Universities Games.

History
At the dedication of the multi-purpose main auditorium, the founder, Archbishop Benson Andrew Idahosa, said "in 1978, God told me I was going to build a university to the glory of his majesty... only God could have done that, as building a university in Nigeria then was the preserve of Federal and State Governments in Nigeria."

The university commenced its academic programmes as Christian Faith University-Institute of Continuous Learning in 1993 at the Ugbor Campus. Successful candidates were admitted into two faculties—Basic Sciences and Management Sciences. National diploma degrees were awarded to students on completion of a two-year programme in affiliation with University of Benin, Benin City and Edo State University, Ekpoma (now Ambrose Alli University, Edo State).

The head of management was referred to as the rector. The rector was Prof. Uche Gbenedio. With support from Mike Okagbare, the registrar, and Mr. Adams, the bursar. Candidates were admitted into programmes in Computer Science, Computer Technology, Agriculture, Accounting, Economics and Political Science.

The university was later named "Benson Idahosa University" in 1998. In the 1999/2000 academic session, BIU had three faculties—Faculty of Basic and Applied Sciences, Faculty of Social and Management Sciences and Faculty of Arts and Education.

The university received the required license to operate as a private university in Nigeria from the National Universities Commission in February, 2002.

The university's fourth faculty is the Faculty of Law, which currently has provisional accreditation from the Council of Legal Education.

In August 2015, BIU opened its second campus, popularly known as Legacy Campus, Okha, with the movement of Faculty of Agriculture and Agricultural Technologies in August 2015, and commencement of Faculty of Engineering in September 2015. Prof. Ben Anyata became the First Dean, Faculty of Engineering in February 2015.

In May 2018, Prof. Sam Guobadia, the acting Vice Chancellor, announced the commencement of a new faculty, the Faculty of Basic Medical and Health Sciences, which is proposed to house the department of Medical Lab Sciences and Nursing.

Courses Offered in Benson Idahosa University

 * Arts and Education: English Studies, International Studies and Diplomacy, Library and Information Science and Christian Religious Studies.
 * Social and management Sciences: Accounting, Banking and finance, Business Administration, Economics, Mass communication, Political Science and Public Administration, Sociology and Anthropology
 * Engineering and Technology: Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering and petroleum engineering
 * Sciences: Physics, Mathematics, Geophysics, Microbiology, Biochemistry and computer science
 * Law: Law
 * Agriculture: Agricultural economics and extension services, Agronomy and environmental management, Animal science, Tourism and hotel management

The Benson Idahosa University has several faculties based in Benin City, Nigeria, including the Faculty of Arts and Education, Faculty of Basic and Applied Sciences, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Social and Management Sciences, and the Faculty of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology. The Faculty of Agriculture, Faculty of Engineering and Faculty of Law are located at the Legacy Campus, which was opened in the Okha district in 2020.



Convocation
The university had its first convocation ceremony (postgraduate diplomas and bachelor's degrees in arts and sciences) on 25 September 2004, with Prof. E.T Ehiametalor as pro-chancellor, Prof. Eghosa Osagie as vice chancellor and E.M. Obadan as registrar. The Chancellor, Archbishop Margaret Benson E. Idahosa OON, was conferred with a Doctor of Letters degree.

Notable alumni
Among notable alumni are:
 * Foluke Adeboye, author, televangelist
 * Eghosa Asemota Agbonifo, entrepreneur, politician
 * Blossom Chukwujekwu, Nollywood actor
 * Uti Nwachukwu, TV presenter

Association
Benson Idahosa University alumni comprise graduates of the then Christian Faith University, which later translated into Benson Idahosa University. Alumni groups and chapters have been organized in several states with a view to carrying on the traditions of BIU and strengthening ties and communication between alumni and the university. The association has been in existence since 2004.