By Lucky Isibor,
Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has set a new target for staff and students of the Edo State University, Iyamho, promising that his administration would redouble efforts in creating the enabling environment for the institution to become one of the best in global university ranking.
Obaseki gave the charge while addressing students and staff of the University at the 3rd Founder’s Day Ceremony held at the premises of the university in Iyamho, Etsako West Local Government Area of the state.
He explained that his administration’s vision for the university is to become a world-class university in ranking.
“I want the University to strive hard as our bench mark is not the Nigerian standard but the world’s, as I want them in the next ranking to be one of the best in the continent before we go to the next level. As a state, we would continue to endow the university,” he added.
The governor called on management of the institution to run its affairs in a sustainable manner and have enough resources to become self-suststaining; which he noted is the goal of the founder.
While assuring that his administration was still considering the option of partnering with one of the world leading universities in the area of intake, research and in attracting more endowments to continue to sustain the quality of infrastructure and learning at Edo University; Governor Obaseki explained that similar vision was proposed for the other state-owned university but it met with resistance for fear of affordability.
“This university was set up along private sector standard. It is the modern way. It will encourage us to see how we can use the model to retool our other universities. It might be expensive but we can as a state put in all sorts of mechanisms and schemes to ease the burden on parents who have children in our universities,” he said.
The third Founder’s Day Ceremony had a presentation by the Minister for Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Hussein Adams, who spoke on “Water Sanitation and Hygiene for Sustainable Development.
The Dean, Faculty of Arts, University of Benin, Prof. Eddy Erhagbe, made a presentation on “Democracy and Meeting the Needs of Nigerian Citizens.”
