By KEMI KASUMU
A vibrant centre for advanced learning within the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS) region, the Ecole Superieure De Management (ESM) Benin University, will today Sunday February 25, 2024 hold the 2023 edition of its Convocation Ceremony in Cotonou, the Republic of Benin’s seat of government.
The DEFENDER reports that ESM Benin University, which study of law has now been accredited in addition to its existing courses, held its 2022 edition of the ceremony on Saturday December 3, 2022.
Over 350 successful students graduated from across the quality based faculties and were accordingly awarded as well as presented their degree certificates during the last event with promise of improved successes this time.
Students, who graduated during the last graduation ceremony, included nationals from the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Republic of Ghana, Republic of Niger, and cut across Microbiology, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Accounting, Economics, Business Administration, Mass Communication, Estate Management, among others.
Also, for their contributions to education across the West African sub-region, four nationals, three of whom came from Nigeria and one from the Republic of Niger, were conferred with honourary doctorate degrees during the colourful and well attended event in the francophone country’s seat of government and economy on the said date.
The honourees included a Lagos, Nigeria-based political leader, Aarebirin Princess Folashade Olabanji-Oba; Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria-based Omega Power Ministry’s General Overseer and philanthropist, Apostle Chubuzor Gift Chinyere; a federal lawmaker in Nigeria, Hon. John Audu; and notable contributor to education from the Republic of Niger, Dr. Ahmadou Tijani.
By national standard, Republic of Benin is widely appreciated for its high premium on all levels of education, while also being generally commended across the ECOWAS bloc for its well coordinated and strictly monitored Public Private Participation based higher education.
The DEFENDER’s investigation in Cotonou revealed that, against what obtains in Nigeria where National Universities Commission (NUC) accredits universities, the Ministry of Higher Education is charged with same responsibility in the Republic of Benin, among which schools it has accredited so far ESM Benin University is one, by its principle and policy that is of zero tolerance to substandard, many universities seen not to have met the country’s expectations were shutdown.
ESM Benin University’s Registrar, Dr Ovie Godson Igeh, who appreciated the gallantry effort of the awardees during the last convocation saying their honours were based on merit and calling on more African corporate bodies and individuals to continue to support education as it is the sole antidote to ignorance and best way of achieving development, announced that the 2023 edition is also expected to come with improved successes.
In one of his chars with The DEFENDER, the Dean of Students’ Affairs and Director of Administration, Ecole Superiure De Management, ESM Benin University, Taiwo Ojo, had described the institution as a bi-section set up with the main campus being French Section while there is other campus being English Section run concurrently and are both located within the Republic of Benin seat of government, Cotonou.
Over 550 new students were matriculated during the last combined ceremonies into the 100 level of the university study system with many of them from across West African countries including Nigeria.
