Benson Idahosa University (BIU) is a private, Christian

university A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, t ...

Benin City Benin City is the capital and largest city of Edo State, Edo State, Nigeria. It is the fourth-largest city in Nigeria according to the 2006 census, after Lagos, Kano (city), Kano, and Ibadan, with a population estimate of about 3,500,000 as of ...

, Edo State,

Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...

. Previously named Christian Faith University (CFU), it was renamed in honor of

Archbishop In Christian denominations, an archbishop is a bishop of higher rank or office. In most cases, such as the Catholic Church, there are many archbishops who either have jurisdiction over an ecclesiastical province in addition to their own archdi ...

Benson Idahosa, a Charismatic

Pentecostal Pentecostalism or classical Pentecostalism is a Protestant Charismatic Christian movement

minister from

, and reflects his

evangelical Evangelicalism (), also called evangelical Christianity or evangelical Protestantism, is a worldwide Interdenominationalism, interdenominational movement within Protestantism, Protestant Christianity that affirms the centrality of being "bor ...

beliefs. He was the first president of the university. The current president of Benson Idahosa University, Rt. Rev. (Dr.) Faith Emmanuel Benson Idahosa, son of Benson Idahosa, is the Bishop of CGMi Faith Arena and Co-ordinator, Next Generation Leadership of the Church of God Mission. BIU is accredited by Nigeria's higher education accreditation body, the National Universities Commission(NUC).It is the only university in Africa with international membership with the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

National Academy of Inventors. Benson Idahosa University has maintained an enviable record in sports. BIU has maintained the best performance by any private university in Nigeria in all editions of Nigerian Private Universities Games, Nigerian Universities Games and West African Universities Games.

History

At the dedication of the multi-purpose main auditorium, the founder, Archbishop Benson Andrew Idahosa, said "in 1978, God told me I was going to build a university to the glory of his majesty... only God could have done that, as building a university in Nigeria then was the preserve of Federal and State Governments in Nigeria." The university commenced its academic programmes as Christian Faith University-Institute of Continuous Learning in 1993 at the Ugbor Campus. Successful candidates were admitted into two faculties—Basic Sciences and Management Sciences. National diploma degrees were awarded to students on completion of a two-year programme in affiliation with University of Benin, Benin City and

Edo State University Edo State University, Uzairue (abbreviated EDSU) is a state government-owned tertiary institution founded in 2016. It is located in Iyamho, a town in Etsako West local government area of Edo State, Nigeria. On 23 March 2016, the university w ...

, Ekpoma (now Ambrose Ali University, Edo State). The head of management was referred to as the rector. The rector was Prof. Uche Gbenedio. With support from Mike Okagbare, the

registrar A registrar is an official keeper of records made in a register. The term may refer to: Education * Registrar (education), an official in an academic institution who handles student records * Registrar of the University of Oxford, one of the se ...

, and Mr. Adams, the bursar. Candidates were admitted into programmes in Computer Science, Computer Technology, Agriculture, Accounting, Economics and Political Science. The

was later named "Benson Idahosa University" in 1998. In the 1999/2000 academic session, BIU had three faculties—Faculty of Basic and Applied Sciences, Faculty of Social and Management Sciences and Faculty of Arts and Education. The university received the required license to operate as a private university in Nigeria from the National Universities Commission in February, 2002. The university's fourth faculty is the Faculty of Law, which currently has provisional accreditation from the Council of Legal Education. In August 2015, BIU opened its second campus, popularly known as Legacy Campus, Okha, with the movement of Faculty of Agriculture and Agricultural Technologies in August 2015, and commencement of Faculty of Engineering in September 2015. Prof. Ben Anyata became the First Dean, Faculty of Engineering in February 2015. In May 2018, Prof.

Sam Guobadia Sam Guobadia is a Nigerian professor of economics and educational administrator. He is the sixth substantive Vice Chancellor of Benson Idahosa University. Education He holds Bachelors and Masters degrees in Economics at State University of New ...

, the acting Vice Chancellor, announced the commencement of a new faculty, the Faculty of Basic Medical and Health Sciences, which is proposed to house the department of Medical Lab Sciences and Nursing.

Convocation

The university had its first convocation ceremony (postgraduate diplomas and bachelor's degrees in arts and sciences) on 25 September 2004, with Prof. E.T Ehiametalor as pro-chancellor, Prof. Eghosa Osagie as vice chancellor and E.M. Obadan as registrar. The Chancellor, Archbishop Margaret Benson E. Idahosa OON, was conferred with a Doctor of Letters degree.

Alumni

Notable alumni

Among notable alumni are: * Foluke Adeboye, author, televangelist *

Eghosa Asemota Agbonifo Eghosa Asemota Agbonifo is a Nigerian businessman and serial entrepreneur from Benin City. Education Eghosa was educated at Emotan Primary School, Benin City from 1991-1997. He later proceeded to Negbenebor International School for his second ...

, entrepreneur, politician *

Blossom Chukwujekwu Blossom Chukwujekwu is a Nigerian actor, who made his professional acting debut in 2009. In 2015, he won the Best Supporting Actor Award at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards. Early life and education Born Chukwudi Echezona Chukwujekwu on ...

, Nollywood actor *

Uti Nwachukwu Uti Nwachukwu (, born 3 August 1982) is a style icon, TV personality, actor and the co-host of the Nigerian show Jara. He is a native of Ndokwa, Aboh Kingdom, Ndokwa East Local Government Area, Delta State, Nigeria. Early life Uti is the la ...

, TV presenter

Association

Benson Idahosa University alumni comprise graduates of the then Christian Faith University, which later translated into Benson Idahosa University. Alumni groups and chapters have been organized in several states with a view to carrying on the traditions of BIU and strengthening ties and communication between alumni and the university. The association has been in existence since 2004.

References

External links

Benson Idahosa University
{{coord, 6, 20, N, 5, 38, E, type:edu_region:NG_source:dewiki, display=title Education in Benin City Educational institutions established in 1998 1998 establishments in Nigeria Benson Idahosa University Christian universities and colleges in Nigeria