Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and Former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) on Friday joined other distinguished Nigerians to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the first privately owned university in Nigeria, Igbinedion University Okada (IUO) in Edo State.
Speaking at the 25th Anniversary, former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) who was instrumental to the establishment of the first private University, said Igbinedion University Okada has immensely contributed to the growth and development of Nigeria in almost every sector.
Abdulsalami congratulated the founder of Igbinedion University, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion for the foresight to pursue a Private University licence 25 years ago saying the university is contributing its quota to the development of the country.
Also eulogizing the institution founder, Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan commended the courage and vision of the founder and Chancellor of the University on the milestone in the history of private University education landscape in Nigeria.
“Igbinedion University is doing very well, and that gave the impetus for other investors to key into the establishment of other private Universities,” Jonathan said.
Other eminent personalities at the epoch 25th Anniversary include, High Commissioner of India to Nigeria, His Excellency, Shri.G. Balasubramanian and Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman, represented by Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC)University of Benin (UNIBEN), Prof. Adesina Ayinde, and former Governors of Delta and Akwa-Ibom state, James Ibori and Obong Victor Attah respectively.
In his remark, Founder of Igbinedion University Okada, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, who spoke through the Institution’s Deputy Chancellor and former Governor of Edo State, Lucky Igbinedion hailed Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) for giving approval for the establishment of the first private university 25 years ago.
On his part, Vice Chancellor, Igbinedion University Okada, Prof Lawrence Ezemonye, said the University commenced its academic programme in the 1999/2000 session and since then, the University has without interruption upheld its resolve to return tertiary education to internationally accepted calendar of September to June.
“The student population has grown steadily from 115 at inception in the 1999/2000 session to over 5000 in 2023/2024, while the staff strength has increased from 55 in 1999/2000 to 823 made of 308 Teaching staff and 515 non-teaching staff,” Ezemonye said.
“Following the presentation of Certificate No.001 to establish Igbinedion University to Sir Chief (Dr.) Gabriel Igbinedion on 10th May 1999, the date 10th May has been adopted as the University’s foundation day. Consequently, the maiden celebration was marked in May 2005 and at the same period in the subsequent years.”
