Barely 24-hours after assuming office as the 11th substantive Vice-Chancellor of University of Benin, UNIBEN, Prof Edoba Omoregie has described the state of some facilities in the institution as unacceptable.
DAILY POST reports that Omoregie, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, and a professor of private property law, resumed office on December 2, 2024, after taking over from Professor Lilian Salami.
The new VC made the remarks on Tuesday while speaking with newsmen shortly after inspecting some facilities in the school.
Edoba inspected facilities at the Hall l, ll and lll, NDDC and clinical hostels.
Speaking with newsmen, he said the state of many of the hostels was unacceptable and a lot of work is needed to make the hostels more habitable.
“As a former student of the University, I am duty bound to make a difference in the wellbeing of the students,” he said.
The vice chancellor further noted that the development underscores his commitment to the welfare and comfort of the students, as he had pledged in his inaugural speech.
Edoba who acknowledged the paucity of funds, however, assured, that he would reach out to stakeholders in order to provide modern facilities to make the hostels better.
He emphasized that his administration would be students-centred as they are tops on his priority list.
DAILY POST recalls that the immediate past Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Lilian Salami, in her valedictory speech said she was able to deliver on her nine point agenda.
“I was able to significantly improve infrastructure facilities in the institution despite the challenges posed by paucity of funds, the outbreak of COVID-19 and the incessant industrial actions.
“I have kept faith with the contacts and do not fail in the agenda. For instance, the ratio of non-teaching staff to teaching staff was abysmally low when we came.
“We were able to train and deploy non-academics to fill the gaps. Better could have been achieved if the Federal Government lifts the embargo on employment,” she stated.
New UNIBEN VC bemoans state of facilities, 24 hours after resumption