Leemon Ikpea, Two Others Bag UNIBEN Honourary Degrees as Varsity Graduates 385 First Class

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

The University of Benin Senate has given nod to award of Doctorate Degree, Honoris Causal to three distinguished Nigerians. They are Chief Leemon Ikpea, CON, Dr. Kingsley Momodu, and Mrs. Veronica Igbe.
Vice Chancellor, University of Benin, Prof. Lillian Imuetinya Salami, disclosed this at the pre-49th/50th convocation and 54th founders’ day media briefing in Benin.
Professor Salami said Chief Ikpea, an oil, gas and construction company magnate will be conferred with Doctor of Business Administration in acknowledgement of his accomplishments in Business and support to the university, Dr. Kingsley Momodu; a distinguished alumnus and renowned dentist will be conferred with Honorary Doctor of Science for his exemplary work in mobilising resources and facilities for the university.
The third honouree, Mrs. Veronica Igbe, is foremost entrepreneur and chairman, VESA Fisheries, who is to be feted with the Honorary Doctor of Business Administration in recognition of her enterprise and pioneering role in industrial fish business in Nigeria as well as her philanthropy.
The University of Benin Vice Chancellor, also disclosed that in the cause of the combined convocation, the university will graduate 385 First Class graduates from the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 academic sessions of the institution respectively.
Giving a break-down of the academic prowess in the years under review, Prof. Salami said, for the 2021/2022 academic session, 206 bagged First Class while 179 students made First Class in the 2022/2023 session, making a total of 385 from both sessions.
She said that 3,658 made Second Class Upper in the 2021/2022 academic session while 3,324 made Second Class Upper for the 2022/2023 academic session.
Salami also said that 297 bagged their PhD in the 2021/2022 academic session and 54 others graduated with their PhD in the 2022/2023.
Speaking on the activities marking the event, the outgoing VC said the event is going to begin on Wednesday 20th with a novelty football match between the staff of the University and that of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH).
She further disclosed that former governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, would deliver a lecture, titled “The Poor also Deserves Education:  Our Founding Heroes’ Legacies in Educational Equity and Equality.”
She further noted that it is gratifying to state that the University of Benin continues to beam its searchlight internally and nationwide to identify and honour distinguished personalities found worthy to be conferred with the recognition as Professors Emeritus and Honorary Doctorate Degrees.
She said seven distinguished professors have been approved by Senate of the university to be recipients of the honour of Professors Emeriti at this year’s convocation, vis-a-vis Professor Nosakhare Odeh Eghafona, Professor of Virology and Medical Microbiology, Professor Felix E. Okeimen, Professor of Chemistry and former Dean of Postgraduate studies, Professor Patrick Edobor Igbinovia, Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice.

She listed others as Professor Ikponmwosa Owie, Professor of Health Education, Professor Augustine Osemwegie Obasohan, Professor of Medicine and Consultant/Cardiologist, as well as former Chief Medical Director of UBTH, Professor Friday Ebhodaghe Okonofua, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology as well as Centre Lead of the University’s Centre of Excellence in Reproductive Health Innovation, CERHI, Professor V. J. Ikhatua, Professor of Animal Science.