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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Culture & Society

University of Benin Eyes N100 Billion for Infrastructural Upgrade

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • The University of Benin (UNIBEN) aims to raise N100 billion through a trust development fund to upgrade its infrastructure.
  • Planned upgrades include a five-star hotel, modern hostels, and a state-of-the-art sports complex.
  • The fund's web portal has been launched, with a formal fundraising event scheduled for July 4, 2026, targeting alumni, philanthropists, and well-meaning individuals.

The University of Benin (UNIBEN) is embarking on an ambitious N100 billion infrastructure development drive, establishing a trust development fund to revitalize its facilities. Vice Chancellor Prof. Edoba Omoregie (SAN) revealed the plan, inspired by initiatives at institutions like Oxford University, to address the dilapidated state of infrastructure he observed upon returning to the university after a seven-year absence.

When I took office as vice chancellor, the first task I embarked upon was to visit the hostels. I went to all the hostels in Ugbowo and the Ekheuan campus.

· Prof Edoba OmoregieDescribing his initial assessment of the university's infrastructure upon assuming office.

The university management seeks to transform UNIBEN into a befitting institution through the development of a five-star hotel, ultramodern hostels, and a state-of-the-art sports complex, among other projects. This initiative comes at a critical time, as the university has faced severe financial challenges, including difficulties in paying electricity bills and student unrest due to prolonged power outages.

I also looked at the books of the university, and I saw that finances were in a shambolic state.

· Prof Edoba OmoregieDetailing the dire financial situation of the university.

The Board of Trustees (BoT) for the fund has been inaugurated, chaired by alumnus and prominent politician Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu. The formal launch of the N100 billion fundraising campaign is set for July 4, 2026. Ize-Iyamu expressed confidence in achieving the target by engaging UNIBEN alumni worldwide, philanthropists, and other well-meaning individuals, emphasizing that such support is crucial for the advancement of international higher education and UNIBEN's mission to deliver excellence.

We could barely even pay the electricity bill, the university was cut off from the public supply system for three months, there was student unrest, I was in Abuja then, watching from afar, and I was weeping inside me about what was going to happen to our university.

· Prof Edoba OmoregieRecounting the severe challenges faced by the university, including power outages and student unrest.
About this summary

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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