CHANCELLOR

Chief (Dr) Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, OFR, CON

Chief (Dr) Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, OFR, CON was born on May 25, 1927. He had his early education at the African Church School, Effurun Otor in 1938 and after attending other schools at Okrika he trained at the Government Teacher Training College, Abraka, 1949-1953.Hehad great experiences as Headmaster of several Schools in Ofoni, Western Ijaw, Bomadi, 1955-1957 and as Assistant Community Development Officer, 1957-1961. He then studied at the Holborn College of Law, 1961-1964. He was Member of the Honourable Society of Inner Temple, London 1952-1965.

He was appointed a Special Adviser in 1966 by the then Military Governor of Midwestern Region. Subsequently, Governor Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia of the Old Bendel State appointed him as Commissioner for Educationin 1968and later Commissioner for Finance and Establishment. Chief (Dr) Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, played a leading role in establishing the Midwest Institute of Technology (MIT) that transitioned into the University of Benin. He served as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Benin, 1970-1975 , received the Honourary Doctorate, LLD in 1990 and a new Faculty of Management Science was recently named after him by the University. He also served as Minister of Information under General Yakubu Gowon,GCFR . He was later appointed Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State in 1982. He was elected a Senator in Bendel State representing Delta Zone on August 20, 1983, and was sworn in on October7, 1983 but the military overthrew Shehu Shagari’s government in December 1983.

He founded the Edwin Kiagbodo Clark Foundation as a platform and expression of his profound philanthropy and established the Edwin Clark University in his hometown Kiagbodoin 2015 to promote education, particularly for the disadvantaged areas. He was installed as the Chancellor of Edwin Clark University, Kiagbodo in 2015.