16/12/2025
UNIBEN Best Graduating Students Get N750K Cash Prizes
The Osasere Osifo Prize for Academic Excellence has honoured Miss Odigie Adesuwa Jessica, the Overall Best Graduating Student of the University of Benin, at the recently concluded 51st Convocation Ceremony, with a cash prize of ₦500,000. Miss Jessica graduated from Chemistry, Faculty of Physical Sciences with a First Class degree, recording an impressive CGPA of 4.89.
Also honoured was Miss Omoniyi Oghenekevwe Deborah, who emerged as the Best Graduating Student in the Department of Physics, the Convener’s former department, Faculty of Physical Sciences. Deborah, who graduated with Second Class Upper degree with a CGPA of 4.19, received a cash prize of ₦250,000.
The Academic Prize is an initiative of a former President of the UNIBEN Students’ Union Government, Engr. Osasere Favour Osifo, who currently serves as the President of the University of Benin Alumni Association, North America (UBAANA). Instituted in 2021, the prize has now awarded a total of ₦3 million to eleven (11) recipients across three convocation years.
The award presentation ceremony took place on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at the institution’s Students’ Affairs Division. Miss Jessica, a graduate of the Faculty of Physical Sciences, received a dual honour for emerging as the Best Graduating Student in the Convener’s former faculty and as the Overall Best Graduating Student of the University. Miss Deborah was similarly honoured as the Best Graduating Student in the Department of Physics under the same faculty.
Speaking at the ceremony, Engr. Osifo stated that the Academic Prize was instituted with a clear and purposeful vision to recognise, reward, and inspire academic excellence. He described the occasion as one dedicated to celebrating brilliance, discipline, and the unwavering pursuit of knowledge.
He congratulated the award recipients for their outstanding academic distinction, noting that their achievements placed them among the finest scholars produced by the institution.