University of Benin (Nigeria)

The University of Benin (UNIBEN) is a public research university located in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. It is among the universities owned by the Federal Government of Nigeria and was founded in 1970. The school currently has two campuses with fifteen faculties including a central library called the John Harris Library. The buildings in UNIBEN are sparsely built, they are not close to each other.

UNIBEN has a teaching hospital called the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH).

History
The University of Benin was founded in 1970. It first started as an Institute of Technology until it was recognized as a full-fledged university and accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC) on 1 July 1971. It became a federal government-owned University on the 1st of April, 1975.

John Harris Library


The John Harris Library is an academic library of university of Benin. The Library is named after a pioneer University librarian, John Harris. The parent institution of the library is the University of Benin which was founded in 1970 and formerly called the Institute of Technology.

The library, which holds large volumes of collections in print and non-print format, is situated directly opposite the clinical Student Hostel, popularly called 'Medical Hostel', within the university premises. The books acquired and shelves in the library cover all courses being offered at the university. It is headed by a university librarian who oversees its affairs.

The John Harris Library was established through the promulgation of the Institute of Technology edict of 1970 but was accorded the status of a university by the National University Commission (NUC) on 1 July 1971.

Branch Libraries


 * Faculty of Arts Library


 * Faculty of Environmental Science Library


 * Faculty of Law Library


 * Faculty of Pharmacy Library


 * Faculty of Agriculture Library


 * Faculty of Education Library


 * Faculty of Engineering Library


 * College of Medical Sciences Library


 * Faculty of Physical Sciences Library


 * Faculty of Management Sciences Library


 * Faculty of Life Sciences Library


 * Faculty of Social Sciences Library


 * Medical Sub-Library (UBTH)

College of Medical Sciences
The UNIBEN College of Medical Sciences teaches medicine and awards a professional degree to physicians and surgeons. The College of Medical Sciences is made up of three schools and an institute, namely:

School of Medicine
The School of Medicine was established in 1973, then the Faculty of Medicine to Medicine to run a 6-year Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) full-time degree program. The first Dean of the school was Professor T. Belo-Osagie. He was Dean from 1973 to 1975. With the exit of Professor T. Belo-Osagie, Professor K. Diete-Koki became the Dean of the school. Since then, the School has had various Deans and Heads of Departments in the last 30 years. The immediate past Dean of the school was Prof. Dr. (med.) E. Oviasu while the present Dean is Professor Wilson E. Sadoh.

School of Basic Medical Science
The School of Basic Medical Science was established in December 2003, by the College of Medical Sciences and was finally launched in January 2004. The school undertakes undergraduate programs for B.Sc.

In addition, the school provides services for other schools within the college: Schools of Medicine and Dentistry as well as other Faculties in the university: Sciences and School of Pharmacy.

The School of Basic Medical Science has the following seven departments:
 * 1) Anatomy
 * 2) Medical Biochemistry
 * 3) Medical Laboratory Science
 * 4) Nursing Science
 * 5) Physiology
 * 6) Physiotherapy
 * 7) Radiography and Radiation Science.

School of Dentistry
The School of Dentistry coordinates courses and curricula within the college leading to the award of a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree. The School of Dentistry, as it was known then, was established in 1976 and the first batch of students was admitted in the 1976/77 academic session. It was established as an integral part of the College of Medical Sciences in 1975 by an amendment to the Edict establishing the University of Benin. In 2012, with support from the International Federation of Endodontic Associations(IFEA), donations from the University of Texas at Houston School of Dentistry, and the Owen family, Dr. Mbachan Collins Okwen BDS. (Benin), DDS., MBA. introduced regenerative endodontics and modern microscopic endodontics at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital.

Vice chancellors

 * Kenneth Robson Hill, pioneer Vice Chancellor
 * T.M. Yesufu, the first indigenous  Vice Chancellor
 * Adamu Baike, 2nd indigenous Vice Chancellor
 * Grace Alele-Williams, Nigeria's first female vice-chancellor. She served from 1985 to 1991
 * Andrew Onokheroraye
 * Abhulimen Richard Anao
 * Emmanuel Nwanze
 * Osayuki Godwin Oshodin, 2009-2014
 * Faraday Osasere Orumwense, 2014- 2019
 * Lilian Salami, 2019–present

Notable alumni

 * Enyinnaya Abaribe, a politician from Abia State
 * Oladipo Agboluaje, actor
 * Emmanuel Agwoje, banker
 * Winifred Akpani, businesswoman, and founder/CEO of Northwest Petroleum & Gas Company Limited
 * Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, co-founder Access Bank Plc and founder & chairman, Africa Initiative for Governance
 * Josephine Anenih, lawyer and former minister
 * Helen Asemota, professor of biochemistry and biotechnology
 * Lota Chukwu, actress
 * George Edozie, artist
 * Abiodun Falodun, rector, Edo State Polytechnic
 * Babatunde Fashola, former Lagos State governor, who served two terms from May 29, 2007, to May 29, 2015, and current minister of Power, Work & Housing in Nigeria
 * James Ibori, former Governor of Delta State from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007
 * Tom Ilube, founder and CEO, Crossword Cybersecurity
 * Wellington Jighere, 2015 WESPA Scrabble champion
 * Patience Maseli, first female deputy director of Upstream Division at the Department of Petroleum Resources
 * Richard Mofe-Damijo, Nollywood actor
 * Darlington Obaseki, medical doctor and professor
 * Gideon Obhakhan, former Commissioner for Education, Edo State, Nigeria
 * Omoni Oboli, a Nigerian actress, film director and producer
 * Loretta Ogboro-Okor
 * Bright Okpocha ("Basketmouth"), comedian
 * Suyi Davies Okungbowa, author and scholar
 * Ovie Omo-Agege, senator in the Nigerian eighth senate
 * Chike Onuorah artist and painter
 * Osonye Tess Onwueme, writer and professor
 * Victor F. Peretomode, academic and professor
 * Benedict Peters, founder of Aiteo group
 * Amaju Pinnick, President Nigeria Football Federation
 * Ijeoma Uchegbu, scientist and professor
 * Emmanuel Uduaghan, former governor, Delta State
 * Sabina Umeh, singer

Awards
Africa Outstanding University of the Year Award, 2023

Notable faculty

 * Alexander Oppenheim (1973–1977), mathematician