The chief executive officer of Natural Eco Capital, Eugene Itua, has congratulated the vice-chancellor of Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, Prof. Lawrence Ezemonye, on his 8th anniversary as the head of the academic institution.

Mr Ezemonye is the third substantive vice-chancellor of the institution.

Mr Itua, who is also a board member of the institution’s Centre for Climate Change and Sustainable Development Goals, in a statement on Thursday, described Mr Ezemonye as a leader whose vision, integrity and unwavering commitment shaped the private university’s evolution over the past eight years.

“Throughout his tenure, Professor Ezemonye has demonstrated purposeful leadership, strategic foresight and a deep commitment to academic excellence,” Mr Itua stated.

“His administration has delivered significant advancements in infrastructure, digital transformation, research capacity, and institutional partnerships, positioning Igbinedion University as a forward-looking institution with growing national and global relevance,” he said.

Mr Itua stated that the institution’s vice-chancellor displayed commendable leadership by expanding engagement with sustainability, climate action and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“His openness to collaboration and his commitment to environmental stewardship paved the way for Natural Eco Capital, under the leadership of its CEO, Eugene Itua, to become a strategic partner to the university,” he said.

Mr Itua stated that other landmark achievements under Mr Ezemonye’s leadership include the successful deployment of Glo Fibre Optic connectivity across the university campus, as well as the implementation and support of multiple sustainability projects and programmes.

He added that the vice-chancellor’s collaboration and readiness to embrace capacity-building initiatives, climate resilience interventions, SDG mainstreaming efforts and research collaborations continue to enrich the university’s academic environment and sustainable development at national and regional levels.

The Natural Eco Capital boss stated that colleagues, staff, partners and stakeholders of the institution widely described Mr Ezemonye as a visionary leader, dependable mentor, steadying force and source of inspiration.

Mr Itua stated, “The collective reflections highlight eight years of transformative leadership that strengthened systems and expanded opportunities, innovative thinking that drove digital and infrastructural modernisation, collaborative engagements that deepened partnerships and broadened impact and human-centered leadership that touched lives and inspired excellence.”