•Graduates 575 students as 8 bag first class
By Gabriel Dike
The Registrar of Ecole Superieure Des Sciences, De Commerce Ef D’ Administration Des Enterprises Du Benin (ESCAE- Benin), Dr. Marius Ahonon has explained the recent surge by Nigerian students seeking admissions into the institution.
Dr. Ahonon disclosed this at the 11th convocation ceremony for 575 graduating students and award of honorary doctorate degree to two persons for their contributions to humanity and the society.
Other management team of ESCAE Prof. Ben Akosa, Dean, Faculty of Social Science, Prof Joyce Akosa, Dean Faculty of Postgraduate Studies and, Dr. Joel Michael Abba, Chief Executive Officer of Divine Doxology Global Ltd, acknowledged the recent interest by students from Nigeria and others in diaspora applying for admission into ESCAE Benin.
Dr. Ahonon said recently ESCAE- Benin is regularly attracting students from diaspora, including Nigeria due to qualified lecturers, training partners given to students, teams relevant to their personal mentally and carrier development and training that useful to the society normally and economically.
He added: “We intend to attach theories to practices, more pragmatic and do relate our teaching to the real world demands, with a direct link to work place problems solving and companies needs.
“We also make entrepreneurship development course compulsory for every students, and as such, made our graduates self-reliance that need small capital to owing into entrepreneurial practice when the opportunity avails.”
Ahonon disclosed that ESCAE-Benin would graduate 575 students including 37 postgraduate students in different courses
According to him, “ESCAE-Benin has been striving to produce all-round self-esteem sufficient individual, who are problem solvers. For instance, one of the graduates of Computer Science and Information Technology developed an application package for an organization in order to bridge a gap, and so no.’’
The registrar said the best overall graduate in 2023, a female, Fasinu Sebasi Oreoluwa from the Department of International Relations obtained CGPA of 4.25.
“She is an exemplary brilliant 18 years old graduate. Though, she is just one among the eight first class graduates across the various departments that bagged first class but she has the highest CGPA,” he stated.
Ahonon explained that parents want their children and wards to be successfully independent after their university education, which is one of ESCAE-Benin’s objectives, whose many graduates are employers of labours.
He said “Though, joblessness is ravaging everywhere, despite this, our graduates are also gainfully employed too. Of course, the ESCAE-Benin university’s inter-relational practices with different companies exposed her products to them, most especially, where the students did their professional attachments, so, going back for full time jobs, have always been welcomed.”
Ahonon showered praises on the two honorary doctorate degree recipients, Mr. Robert Houdegbe and Apostle Christians Philips, adding, “it is a great privilege to be identified with you, for we believe in your valuable achievements and ESCAE-Benin equally hope to benefit from your wealth of achievements.”
In his remarks, the Chancellor of ESCAE-Benin, Dr. Theodore Mehoba said the contribution of the university to national development is to meet the intellectual needs of the society through research and teaching to advance the frontiers of knowledge to transmit knowledge from one generation to another.
The chancellor, who was represented by Dr. Hermon Jean-Mensah appreciated parents for the choice of the university, which he described as one of the best institutions in research and teaching that is approved by the government to run both English and French programmes.
“You have been well informed, more equipped and adequately trained to offer solutions to the countless number of problems that our society faces today, and your training so far should make you independent, self reliant, and determined to succeed, “he stated.
The Dean, Faculty of Social Science, Prof. Akosa said initially ESCAE taught students in French and that the addition of English language to the teaching continues to attract students from Nigeria and other countries.
Prof. Akosa said ESCAE runs uninterrupted four-year programmes unlike what is obtained in Nigeria, adding, “our students population is growing from Ghana, Nigeria and neighbouring countries. Our students go for the one year compulsory NYSC scheme in Nigeria.”
The Dean, Faculty of Post Graduate Studies, Prof. Joyce Akosa, said ESCAE attract Nigerians students because Benin is nearest, the quality of students graduate, no strike and cultism as well as affordable fees.
She disclosed that the ministry of Higher Education accredits ESCAE-Benin courses; availability of regular power supply, adequate security and that Benin is a safer place to study.
The Rector of Excellerate Business School, Agbara, Dr. Mike Egbayelo said his school partner ESCAE in research and innovation, curriculum review and exchange students programme.
The Director of International Programme, Dr. Joel Michael Abba told The Education Report that ESCAE attracts more Nigerian students because of easy admission process, high standard of learning and that relevant authority, such as NUC, NYSC and Federal Ministry of Education Abuja, recognize the institution.
His words: “Our graduates are accepted in the country by both public and private sectors, qualified lecturers. Parents who are interested in sending their children to the university, ESCAE-Benin is the best option for now.
Awards were presented to lecturer of the years, induction of lecturers into the Institute of Leadership and Human Resources (ILHR) by the Registrar, Prof. Wakawa Musa, various awards to outstanding graduates and conferment of honorary cause on two recipients.