After he established the Church of God Mission Int. Inc. in the 1960s, Archbishop B.A. Idahosa received specific direction from God to venture into the area of education starting from Nursery Education to the University level. 

By 1981, the vision of Christian Faith University (CFU) which was later renamed Benson Idahosa University (BIU) had matured in the mind of the Archbishop.  But the actualisation of this vision had to be suspended to provide room for the establishment of the highly reputable WORD OF FAITH GROUP OF SCHOOLS (Nursery, Primary and Secondary) in the 1980s. 

In 1992, Archbishop B.A. Idahosa applied to the Honourable Minister of Education for a license to establish a private university.  Following this development, an expert team of Academicians and professionals was set up to prepare a feasibility report on Academic brief and develop a master plan for the proposed university. 

Operating as Institute of Continuous Learning (ICL), the proposed university organised academic and professional programmes for young students.  In February 2002, ten years after the application to start a private university, the Federal Government acting through the National University Commission (NUC), graciously granted Benson Idahosa University license to operate.

VISION AND MISSION
The vision of Benson Idahosa University flows from its Divine mandate, which were God’s words spoken to its founder.  His vision was to “raise up an army of professionals and academicians who would go in Christ’s name to the ends of the world with the fire of the Holy Ghost to impart truth by precepts and example”.

PHILOSOPHY
Generally, the overall philosophy of the university is concluded in its motto, which is “Academics Excellence with Godliness” and its colours, GOLD and WHITE.  Today the world is unstable and the many inappropriate philosophies contend for the attention of man.

LOCATION
The permanent site of the university is located in Okha village along Sapele Road in Benin City.  However, the temporary site is located at Ugbor area of the Government Reserved Area (GRA), Benin City.