Senator Neda Imasuen, chair of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petition, reaffirmed the National Assembly’s dedication to enhancing university funding, protecting academic freedom, and fostering stronger connections between academia and industry.
Speaking at the University of Benin’s (UNIBEN) Faculty of Arts golden jubilee celebration, Senator Imasuen, representing Edo South, was honored with the Distinguished Legislative Leadership Award in recognition of his efforts.
The event marked a significant milestone, reflecting on fifty years of the Faculty’s scholarly achievements, cultural contributions, and the influence of its graduates, while also setting strategic goals for its continued growth.
Senator Imasuen was represented by Hon. Orobosa Omo-Ojo, former Edo State Commissioner for Transport, who emphasized the senator’s impactful role in advancing education within Edo South.
“Our nation requires more than academic qualifications; it demands innovative thinkers, principled leaders, and committed citizens,” Omo-Ojo remarked. “True education extends beyond certificates-it cultivates resilience, integrity, and accountability.”
Highlighting Senator Imasuen’s educational initiatives, Omo-Ojo revealed that over 420 scholarships have been awarded in the last two years, including to students in UNIBEN’s Music and Educational Management faculties.
Additionally, more than 500 students have benefited from UTME fee sponsorships, and vocational training programs have been introduced for parents, focusing on skills like contemporary agriculture, fashion design, and traditional event management.
Omo-Ojo also expressed strong backing for President Bola Tinubu’s Students Loan Act, recognizing it as a crucial measure to broaden access to tertiary education.
Further commitments include plans to train 350 youths in border security and the reconstruction of the Faculty of Arts Lecture Theatre as part of ongoing constituency development projects.
Representing the Vice Chancellor, Professor Edosa Bright Omoregie, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics) Professor Victor Ighineweka praised the Faculty as a “pillar of intellectual, cultural, and humanistic advancement,” noting its alumni’s significant contributions to Nigeria’s academic, artistic, and political spheres.
The keynote address, delivered by Professor Francis Egbokhare, explored the theme “The Place of Humanity in an AI Era.”
Professor Egbokhare challenged the notion that Artificial Intelligence threatens human relevance, emphasizing that the most pressing global issues are fundamentally humanistic rather than technological. He argued that questions of ethics, fairness, leadership, and meaning require human insight and cannot be resolved by AI alone.
