Benson Idahosa University was founded in 1993 as Christian Faith University, offering courses in basic science and management. The university was then renamed in 1999 in honour of its founder Benson Idahosa, a Pentecoastal preacher.
It was licensed by the National Universities Commission as a private university in 2002.
The faculties of arts and education, science, law, social and management science, and basic medical and health sciences are based in Benin City with agriculture and engineering at the Legacy campus opened in the Okha district in 2020.
The university has strong sporting traditions. Ifeomi Onyekwere won a bronze medal in men’s super-heavyweight boxing at the 2022 Commonwealth Games while Marvelous Asemota won both women’s sprint events at the Nigerian University Games.
