The National Universities Commission has approved six new full-time programmes at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels for the University of Benin, effective from the 2026/2027 academic session.
The approval followed the successful resource assessment of the proposed programmes by the commission.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the university’s Public Relations Officer, Dr Benedicta Ehanire, the institution said two of the newly approved undergraduate programmes were designed to address the shortage of specialists in critical areas of the healthcare sector.
The statement read, “Following the successful resource assessment of proposed courses at the University of Benin, the National Universities Commission has approved for the institution six new full-time programmes at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, effective from the 2026/2027 academic session.
“Among the newly approved undergraduate programmes are two special courses – Bachelor of Speech Language Therapy and Bachelor of Occupational Therapy.
“These programmes demonstrate the efforts of the university in pioneering the policy initiative of the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, on the need to train skilled manpower in the two fields of study to address the dearth of experts in the disciplines in the country’s healthcare sector.
“Other undergraduate programmes approved are B.Sc International Relations, B.Sc Intelligence and Security Studies, B.Ed Primary Education and B.N.Sc Nursing Science (in collaboration with the University of Benin Teaching Hospital).”
According to the statement, the university’s Centre of Excellence in Space Science Technology and Application will also offer Master’s and PhD degrees in Remote Sensing and Aeronautical Engineering.
Reacting to the approval, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Edoba Omoregie (SAN), thanked the NUC and reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to maintaining high academic standards.
“We appreciate the NUC for the approval of the courses, and the institution will sustain its leading position as a first-rate manpower training and development hub,” he said.
Omoregie added that the university remained committed to expanding its academic offerings and strengthening its role in producing skilled professionals through diverse and innovative programmes.