Professor Emmanuel Irabor Celebrates Millennium Chemists’ 25th Anniversary at University of Benin
Professor Emmanuel E. I. Irabor, Head of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Benin, delivered an inspiring homecoming speech to the Class of 2000 (Millennium Chemists), celebrating 25 years of excellence, resilience, and contribution to the department’s legacy despite challenges such as the 2023 fire incident.
A SPEECH DELIVERED ON THE OCCASION OF THE HOMECOMING OF THE YEAR 2000 GRADUATING SET (MILLENNIUM CHEMISTS) BY PROFESSOR EMMANUEL E.I. IRABOR, HEAD OF DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY, UNIVERSITY OF BENIN ON FRIDAY, 24/10/2025
The Vice-Chancellor University of Benin
The Dean Faculty of Physical Sciences
The Former Heads of Department of Chemistry
Former Staff of the Department of Chemistry
All Awardees here present
The Millennium Chemists
Staff and Students of the Department of Chemistry
Ladies and Gentlemen.
It is with great pleasure that I welcome you the Millennium Chemists (the brain) behind this gathering back home as you celebrate the Silver Jubilee of your graduation.
I have no doubt that through the trainings you received from the Department you have achieved different milestones in life. I have had the pleasure of meeting some representatives of your class and I want to say that the Department of Chemistry is highly proud of you and your achievements. Permit me to say that your representative on the staff list of the Department of Chemistry had his Associate Professorship announced by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin, Professor Edoba Bright Omoregie SAN, a few weeks ago and that is the person of Dr Anthony Aiwonegbe.
I have been duly informed that you have donated different items to the Department of Chemistry under different Heads of Department in the past. However, I also have felt your pain with respect to the oversight of your generosity not being accorded appropriate gratitude by way of acknowledgement. To these serial infractions, I tender unreserved apology on behalf of the Department.
Prof. Emmanuel E.I. Irabor (HOD - Chemistry Dept. University of Benin, Benin City)
Nonetheless, in recognition of your contributions, your place in history has been secured and documented as the Department has created an Honours Roll Call with names of worthy contributors inscribed on the Marble. I urge you to pay a visit to the Department to have a first hand experience.
It has been 25 years since you graduated and I can tell you confidently that the Department has striven to maintain the high standard set by our founding fathers; and the entire University Community hold the Department in the highest esteem on account of discipline, scholarship and standard we have maintained ever since.
It is gratifying and worthy of note that a good number of the products of the Department have benefitted from the various competitive scholarship schemes which enabled them to obtain higher Degrees in Universities in America, Europe and Asia. While some returned back to the Department as Lecturers, others remain as our brand Ambassadors in diaspora thus giving us assistance and linkages necessary for research and development.
The staff of the Department continue to exhibit resilience, perseverance and innovation in the face of high demand of responsibilities placed on it by the university as a Service Department. With increasing Departments and Faculties ( about 50 Departments in 12 Faculties) currently serviced at 100 -300 levels without a corresponding increase in the allocation of resources due to paucity of funds in the University, it goes without saying that we are miracle workers in our attempt to meet the demands imposed on us by virtue of the services we render to the University.
Some Cross Section of The Class of 2000 (Millennium Chemists) 25th Anniversary Reunion
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- Celebrating The Birthday Of The King Of Debt Recovery In Nigeria 2024
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Unfortunately, the Department has not been spared the fury of unscrupulous elements in our society. On 30/11/2023 at about 10:00pm, the Departmental offices and ten(10) adjourning offices and laboratories were engulfed in an inferno which was clearly the handiwork of arsonist(s). The losses incurred were catastrophic as vital documents, records, chemicals, laboratory aparatus, instruments, books, furniture, office equipment and personal effects were destroyed. We are however grateful to God that no life was lost.
Notwithstanding, the devastation above, vandals used the opportunity to vandalise the gas pipelines, the copper pipes for water, laboratory facilities and the brass stopcocks. We cannot carry out any heating experiment using gas due to the vandalisation. Through self help, we have restored water and power to enable us carry out our various functions.
On the bright side however, three of those vandals have been caught with two already serving various jail terms due to diligent prosecution.
I will at this junction wish to thank you on behalf of the staff and students of the Department for your swift response in the gloomy moments of grief occasioned by the inferno as you provided some vital equipment and monetary donations which enabled the Department to function in order to meet its onerous responsibilities to the University.
Class of 2000 (Millennium Chemists) 25th Anniversary Reunion For Cutting of Anniversary Cake
The importance of the Alumni to the continous development of the Department and University cannot be overemphasised. The current rehabilitation effort of the Department by the Niger Delta Development Commission is due greatly to the fact that the then Minister of Ministry of Niger Delta and now Minister of Regional Development, Engr Abubakar Momoh is an alumnus of this University who read Chemical Engineering, who recalled with nostalgia his passage through the Department of Chemistry at 100 level; hence the swift response when the Vice-Chancellor beckoned on him to assist in the rehabilitation of the burnt section of the building.
The Department is currently undergoing a re-engineering in order remain a reference point among the first generation Universities in particular and the entire University system in Nigeria . I can tell you without fear of contradiction that the academic staff of the Department remain the highest recipient of research grants given by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund in the Faculty of Physical Sciences in particular. Only in May, 2025, we concluded a six month training programme in glass blowing with the rejuvenation of the glassblowing workshop after 20 years of being moribund. We wish to express our profound gratitude to the Vice-Chancellor for the tremendous financial and moral support in that regard.
In an attempt to enhance the security of property of the Department, we have begun the gradual installation of metal protectors.We call on you to strengthen our relationship for the benefit of both present and future generations.
To that end, we have already created an alumni e-mail: chemistryalumni@uniben.edu. It is also already a major line of responsibility in the Department as staff have been appointed as Alumni relations Officers and we hope to strengthen our relationship with all the various sets as we progress.
We are delighted that the focus of today's silver jubilee of the Millennium Chemists have two components- the appreciation of the lecturers who taught you and empowerment of some scholarly students. These are worthy causes which are worthy of emulation.
May God almighty reward your act of generosity as you have set the pace for others to follow.
The Department call on you for continous financial and material support and the strengthening of our relationship. Once again, on behalf of the staff and students of Chemistry Department, I say welcome back home.
Thank you and God bless you.
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