By Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin
The management of University of Benin (UNIBEN) in Edo State has appointed no fewer than 200 adjunct lecturers, to help bridge the gap in teaching positions.
The feat now put the teaching Staff of the University at 1,779 (One Thousand seven Hundred and Seventy-nine, while the number of non-teaching Staff was approximately 6063 (Six Thousand and sixty-three).
Prof. Lilian Salami, the Vice Chancellor of the institution, said the drastic measure was taken to mitigate the impact on the continuing embargo on employment by the Nigerian government.
She disclosed this a Press briefing as prelude to the 46th, 47th Convocation and 51st Founders’ Day and Golden Jubilee Awards Ceremonies that begin on Monday November 22, 2021.
“At the inception of this administration, a major source of concern was the major disequilibrium in the ratio of teaching to non-teaching Staff.
“Figures available put the teaching Staff at 1,779 (One Thousand seven Hundred and Seventy-nine, while the number of non-teaching Staff was approximately 6063 (Six Thousand and sixty-three).
“With the continuing embargo on employment, something drastic needed to be done to address the situation.
She further revealed that “ This administration then began the process of sourcing, from among non-teaching Staff, qualified persons who were subsequently redeployed to the teaching cadre.
In light above, “Over over 250 (Two Hundred and Fifty of such qualified Staff have been so redeployed to academics”, according to the VC.
Thomas Ilube, a technology entrepreneur and Chief Executive Officer of Crossword Cyber security Plc, a cyber security firm based in the United Kingdom, and four other Nigerians have been nominated by the management of the University of Benin to receive honorary doctorate degrees.
Ilube, who is also the Chairman, UK Rugby Football Union (RFU), will be honored with doctor of science, while others including Theophilus Danjuma will be conferred with Doctor of Letters; John Odigie-Oyegun will be bestowed with Doctor of Science; Natalia Kanem and Oluwakemi Pinheiro, SAN will be awarded with Doctor of Science and Doctor of Law, respectively.
In addition, the events would begin on Monday 22, November, with the installation of the new Chancellor, His Royal Majesty, Orcivirigh Professor James Ortese Lorzua Ayatse, Tor Tiv, who is the chairman of Convocation.
Also, the Founders’ Day and the Convocation lectures would be delivered by Osagie Okunbor and Olumide Akpata, Managing director of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria and the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA respectively.
A total of 17,517 students from 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 academic sessions would be awarded various classes of degrees while 3,428 postgraduate students from both sessions would receive higher degrees, according to the Vice Chancellor.
