Six new full-time undergraduate and graduate programs have been approved by the National Universities Commission for the University of Benin, with effect from the 2026–2027 academic year.

The commission's successful resource assessment of the suggested programs preceded the approval.

Two of the recently approved undergraduate programs were created to address the lack of experts in crucial sectors of the healthcare industry, according to a statement released on Sunday by the university's public relations officer, Dr. Benedicta Ehanire.

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).”

The university's Center of Excellence in Space Science Technology and Application will also provide Master's and PhD degrees in Aeronautical Engineering and Remote Sensing, according to the release.

Prof. Edoba Omoregie (SAN), the university's vice-chancellor, responded to the clearance by thanking the NUC and reiterating the institution's dedication to upholding 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.

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