FOR the fourth in less than seven years, the state university has gotten a new name.
The institution will now be known as Edo University Uzaire instead of Edo State University Iyamho.
Approved by the National Universities Commission (NUC) during the tenure of Adams Oshiomhole as Governor, the institution was the 23rd state-owned University and Nigeria’s 142nd University.
Recall that the State House of Assembly had on March 24, 2014, passed the Executive Bill for a Law to establish Edo State University of Science and Technology in Etsako West Local Government Area.
The motion for the passage of the Bill was moved by the then House Leader, Philip Shaibu, who was reported to have said that the word “Uzuaire” is vague as it is a clan and not a specific town. His motion was seconded by Emmanuel Okoduwa.
After considering the bill on a clause-by-clause basis, the University was established as Edo State University, Uzairue Law 2014.
Two days before the end of the tenure of Oshiomhole in 2016, however, the State House of Assembly again amended the law to rename the institution Edo University, Iyamho.
According to the University on its website, “Edo State University Uzairue (formerly Edo University Iyamho), was established by the Edo University Uzairue Law (2014) and subsequently amended to Edo University Iyamho, Uzairue, (Amendment Law 2015). It was further amended as Edo University Iyamho (Amendment Law 2016).
Following a letter from Governor Godwin Obaseki, on 14 December, 2020, to amend Edo State University Law No. 4 of 2014, for consideration and amendment, the State House of Assembly again effected another amendment, ‘Edo State University, Uzairue’.
The amended Edo State University No. 4 in 2020 Law, altered the name of the institution to Edo State University, Uzairue by the State Government the fourth time.
In reaction, however, Oshiomhole said “Today, from Ilueke to Iyamho, are we now having a primary school? Yes! And by the grace of God, we have a secondary school and a University.
“If they like they call it University of Ghana. They can call it University of Zimbabwe. No man can change it. It is a matter of time, everybody will write his own testimonial while on earth.”
