‘UNIBEN to benefit from road expansion, Ossiomo power projects’

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has assured management of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) that his administration will ensure the university community benefits from the expansion of Ekehuan Road and the Ossiomo Independent Power Plant projects.

Obaseki gave the assurance when management of UNIBEN led by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Lilian Salami, visited him at Government House, Benin City.

He said he was governor of everybody and everything in the state including the University of Benin and that the state government looked forward to collaborating more with the institution.

“We are working on the Ekehuan Road project, which will now make the Ekehuan Campus of the university more accessible. We are happy we have UNIBEN in our state and particularly in Benin City. It will not be fair for a government that emphasises education not to take advantage of the fact that the institution is in our territory,” he said.

The governor also explained that his administration was working hard to connect 50 megawatts of electricity from the Ossiomo Power Plant to the Government Science and Technical College, adding that some of the power will be extended to UNIBEN to guarantee uninterrupted power supply.

Responding to the Vice Chancellor’s requests, Obaseki said the state government had awarded the repairs of roads in the institution, adding, “We will mandate the Edo 2020 National Sports Festival (NSF) contractor in charge of the hostel renovation to go back to site. We are beneficiaries of the Federal Fire Service and I am going to make a case for you.”

Speaking, Salami congratulated Obaseki on his victory in the September 19 governorship election and assured him of the institution’s readiness to support the administration, adding, “Your victory has told a lot about your performance. We are sure you will even perform better in your second term. We hope and pray that you will continue the good work you have started in good health.”

She hinted the governor that the Federal Ministry of Education had asked universities initiate a process for resumption and that management of the university had picked October 24, 2020 as its tentative date for resumption, adding that the institution resolved to reopen for final year students and professional programmes due to the challenges of COVID-19 pandemic.