Why it is on record
Founded by Sir Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin, at Okada in Ovia North-East LGA (Edo State) — the first secular private university licensed in Nigeria (joint, 10 May 1999). Strongest historically in its College of Health Sciences (one of the first private medical schools in Nigeria; full MBBS accreditation by MDCN) and Law.
Record held
First secular (non-faith) private university in Nigeria (joint, 10 May 1999); first private medical school in Nigeria to win MDCN MBBS accreditation.
Deep dive
Igbinedion University Okada, founded in 1999 by Chief Gabriel Igbinedion (the Esama of Benin), was the first private university licensed by the National Universities Commission in the Fourth Republic — the inaugural beneficiary of the policy reversal that re-opened private university licensing after the 1984 prohibition. It is the institutional namesake of the Igbinedion industrial group.