The National Universities Commission (NUC) has approved six new full-time undergraduate programmes and additional postgraduate courses for the University of Benin (UNIBEN), effective from the 2026/2027 academic session.
Benedicta Ehanire, the university’s Public Relations Officer, announced the development in a statement on Saturday in Benin, noting that the approval followed a successful resource assessment of the proposed programmes by the NUC.
Two of the newly approved undergraduate offerings are Bachelor of Science degrees in Speech Language Therapy and Occupational Therapy. According to Mrs Ehanire, these programmes align with the policy initiative of the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, aimed at addressing critical shortages of skilled professionals in Nigeria’s healthcare sector.
Other approved undergraduate programmes include BSc degrees in International Relations and Intelligence and Security Studies; a Bachelor of Education in Primary Education; and a Bachelor of Nursing Science, which will be delivered in collaboration with the University of Benin Teaching Hospital.
The university’s Centre of Excellence in Space Science Technology and Application has also received approval to offer Master’s and PhD degrees in Remote Sensing and Aeronautics Engineering.
UNIBEN Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, expressed gratitude to the NUC for the approval and reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to sustaining its position as a leading hub for manpower development. He added that the university would continue to strengthen its academic portfolio in response to national development needs.
The new courses, which commence in the 2026/2027 session, are expected to significantly boost the university’s capacity to produce high-calibre graduates in emerging and critical fields.