The Federal University Lokoja has been ranked in the bracket of 51-60th by the Times Higher Education out of the 120 universities in the sub – Saharan Africa and 17th out of NIgerian universities and 9th among its peers established by the former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Akinwumi Olayemi disclosed this at the grand finale of the activities marking the 6rh and 7th combined convocation ceremony held recently at the main stadium of the university at the Felele Main Campus in Lokoja.
The Vice Chancellor said all the programmes of the university have all been relocated from the temporary site at Adankolo to the permanent site in Felele end of Lokoja, Kogi state capital.
Prof Olayemi added that the University has commenced the Department of Medicine, Nursing, Engineering, while Agriculture, law, Pharmacy, Psychology and Medical laboratory sciences programmes are in the pipeline.
He explained that the College of Health Sciences of the university has taken off fully with pioneer students now in 200 level. He further disclosed that maiden students admission exercise into the Engineering and Nursing programmes will take place in the 2023/2024 academic session.
The Vice Chancellor thanked former President Mohammadu Buhari for the approval to convert Federal Medical Hospital, Lokoja to Federal Teaching Hospital, to be used as Teaching Hospital for Medical programme.
In the area of community service in the university, the Vice Chancellor noted that they have established both primary and International secondary schools where quality education is guaranteed
The university, under his tenure, Prof. Olayemi disclosed constructed road networks, construction of entrepreneurship centre, construction of 12 blocks of lecture halls as well as the construction of the university health centre.
The Vice Chancellor added that under his tenure, the university has carried out two solar powered electrification of the streets as well as road networks, constructed 40 blocks of shops under the build, operate and transfer model.
Furthermore, the university, he added, has carried out the renovation of the Faculty of Science Complex, renovation of the university library and ICT centre, equally constructed agriculture training centre, facilitated by the federal ministry of agriculture.
Within the period under review, is the connection of electricity from the Lokoja power substation to the university through the national grid; procurement of a fire fighting service truck, construction of security building, renovation of the male and female hostels at the Adankolo campus for the MBBS students
Similarly, his administration, the Vice Chancellor hinted, has carried out the construction of the 4 storey senate building, the construction of the Faculty of Engineering which is in progress. He added that the university has received two 18 seater buses, donated by Dr. Innocent Izoemena Exuma, while he also acknowledged the receipt of a grant of N250m from BUA Cement for the construction of Central Laboratory.
The Vice Chancellor assured the host community of more benefits that would be accrued in the future in terms of employment. He said the university has also made it a policy for the indigenes to benefit 75% from all the recently introduced professional courses.
Prof. Olayemi appealed to the people of the state, particularly well to do individuals to help in supporting the institution and attributed the cordial relationship existing between him and the staff as a product of his open door policy.
Meanwhile, a total of 61 students bagged First class, while 2511 bagged various classes of degrees from 6th and 7th sets of the university.
Those conferred with Doctorate of Philosophy, Honaris Causa, include, a member of House of Representatives, Abiodun Feleke for his relentless support for the university.
