Benson Idahosa University
Benson Idahosa University is a private, Christian university in Benin City, Nigeria.
BIU was renamed in honor of Archbishop Benson Idahosa, a Charismatic Pentecostal minister from Benin City, Nigeria, and reflects his evangelical beliefs. He was the first president of the university. The current president of Benson Idahosa University, Rt. Rev. 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. It is the only university in Africa with international membership with the United States 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, Ekpoma.
The head of management was referred to as the rector. The rector was Prof. Uche Gbenedio. With support from Mike Okagbare, the registrar, and Mr. Adams, the bursar. Candidates were admitted into programmes in Computer Science, Computer Technology, Agriculture, Accounting, Economics and Political Science.
The university 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, 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.
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B.Sc Ed Computer Education 2009
Convocation
The university had its first convocation ceremony 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.| Year | Convocation lecturer | Honorary doctorate awardee |
| 2004 | Archbishop Margaret Benson Idahosa – Letters | |
| 2005 | Prof. Grace Alele-Williams | |
| 2007 | Prof. Grace Alele-Williams | Archbishop Margaret Benson Idahosa – Letters |
| 2008 | Donald Duke | |
| 2009 | Chief Elizabeth Adegbite | Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui Okauru – Business Administration |
| 2010 | Barr. Jimoh Ibrahim | |
| 2011 | Comrade Adams Oshiomhole | Chief Stella Okoli – Business Administration Maj. Gen. Godwin Abbe – Public Administration Com. Adams Oshiomhole – Political Science |
| 2012 | Engr. Goddie Isibor – Business Administration Chief Lemon Ikpea – Business Administration Deacon Daniel Eghobamien – Business Administration | |
| 2013 | Prof. Julius Ihonvbere | |
| 2014 | Hon. Kingsley Kuku | Deacon Vincent Agenmonmen – Business Administration |
| 2015 | Chief Olusegun Obasanjo | Pastor Chris Oyakhilome – Divinity |
| 2016 | Prof. Sidi Osho | |
| 2017 | Ogiame Ikenwoli, Olu of Warri Kingdom – Divinity |