Igbinedion, who is the Esama of Benin Kingdom and Chancellor
of IOU, spoke at his 89th birthday lecture organised by the institution in his
honour.
The founder, who was represented by his first son, Chief
Lucky Igbinedion, said the desire to provide enabling environment for
uninterrupted quality education to future generations propelled him to
establish IOU.
He said it was gratifying that 24 years down the line, the
vision had not only crystallised, but yielded fruits, witnessing an increase in
the number of private universities to the present 148.
“The establishment of Igbinedion University in 1999, the
first of such private universities in Nigeria, was borne out of my earnest
desire to bequeath to future generations of Nigerians high quality university
education run with an uninterrupted calendar.
“This was at a time that access to higher education,
especially at the university level, was limited compared to the number of
aspirants, thus stalling human capital development and by extension the
socio-economic progress of the dear nation.
“It is noteworthy that since inception, the university has
recorded remarkable successes in the areas of teaching and research, capacity
building and innovation.
“Moreover, the university has kept to the October – June
academic calendar and graduated students every November without fail,” he
stated.
“Significantly, Igbinedion University has carved a niche for
itself; for embracing diversity, equity and inclusion in its composition, thus
becoming a vanguard for promoting national unity and cohesion.
“What’s more, the university has produced high quality
graduates in different fields of human endeavours who are contributing their
quota to national and global development.
“These to me are sources of joy for which I remain grateful
to Almighty God,” said Igbinedion.
Igbinedion, who is also the Chancellor of the institution,
reiterated his commitment towards the transformation of the educational
landscape of the country through the university.
According to him, the hard earned reputation of being a
point of reference in the rejuvenated education sector as Nigeria’s leading and
most prestigious private university shall be defended and protected.
Delivering the lecture entitled “Power of Pioneering”, Mr
Nick Mole, the Executive Director, Carbonlogical Ltd., United Kingdom, said
only the spirit of inspiration and collaboration could lead to such pioneering
in chosen areas of endeavour.
Mole related how he spent 15 years developing innovative
solutions to the climate crisis.
To be a pioneer, he said, required dedication, discipline
and inspiration such as was exhibited by Chief Igbinedion.
Earlier, Prof. Lawrence Ezemonye, the Vice-Chancellor of the
university, said the celebration of the chancellor’s birthday with an annual
lecture such as this, was to give recognition to “whom it is due”.
He described as legendary and commendable, the unwavering
commitment of Igbinedion to education and the development of the nation.
Through his tireless effort and boundless generosity, the
vice-chancellor said, the university had continued to grow from strength to
strength.
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