From Tony Osauzo, Benin
The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II has tasked the management of the University of Benin to hone the skills of its students in entrepreneurship and promote industrial harmony among the various staff unions to avert disruptions in academic programmes.
The first class traditional ruler gave the advice when the newly inaugurated Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Edoba Bright Omoregie (SAN), led the management team of the university, alongside Governing Council members of the institution to his palace in Benin City for a courtesy visit.
“When we hear of strikes, it keeps us very worried. Sometimes, some of them can be quite violent. It sometimes disrupts the academic calendar.
“I am sure Professor Edoba will have a way of navigating through all that. He is skilled and smart. He knows what he is doing. You have a good VC with Edoba.”
The Oba extended his best wishes to Omoregie, noting that the university is lucky to have the legal luminary as its vice chancellor at this time and assured that he had no doubt that the 11th substantive vice chancellor of the university would bring his wealth of experience to bear in expanding the frontier of knowledge across intellectual span as ‘a specialist in legislative interpretation.’
“He (VC) is very close to me; and I can vouch for his integrity. Many of the chiefs here know certain things about his background. His father was also very close to the palace.
“The Governing Council did a very nice job. Congratulations Professor Edoba on your new appointment.
“No doubt, he is equal to the task. I was very glad that he picked some salient points and critical areas that need attention, including students’ and staff welfare,” the Benin monarch added.
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor, Prof.Omoregie, venerated the Oba, who donated a vast land where the university was established years ago.
The professor of constitutional law and governance, thanked Oba Ewuare II for his commitment towards the well-being of Edo people and the school.
He highlighted priority areas within five years of his administration and pledged to harness cultural values of Edo heritage.
He emphasised that students and staff welfare in addition to skills development across the various faculties aimed at generating a pool of income were needed to preserve the university’s central purpose.
The Vice Chancellor, who also promised to make the university globally competitive with the support of stakeholders, solicited for prayer from the palace to enable him succeed in his new task.