” Graduates 14 first Class, 790 others.
The Vice Chancellor, Federal University Lokoja, kogi state, Professor Olayemi Akinwumi, has assured students wishing to study Medical related Courses, that, bearing unforseen circumstances, the University is set to admit its first set of students for the College of Health Sciences in the 2022 academic calendar year.
This is just as the University has received approval to increase its carrying capacity from 1500 to 4, 000 students to improve access to University Education in the Country.
The Vice Chancellor gave the assurance on Monday , in a press briefing to mark the Commencement of the fifth Conversation ceremony, held at the Permanent Campus at Felele end of Lokoja, kogi state capital.
Prof. Akinwumi who noted that the University has achieved quantum leap in both academic and infrastructural development in her ten years of existence , has through the hardwork of all the stakeholders has moved from the seventh position to third position in a webometric ranking among its peers of 12 universities.
He said , out of the 804 graduands,, 14 bagged first class, 188, 2nd Class upper Division, 441, 2nd class Lower Division, while 95 and 66 earned Third Class and Post Graduate Diploma respectively.
He explained that the University has equally secured waiver by NUC and JAMB for 38 new programmes that were not listed on the Central Processing System , assuring that plans are in advance stage for resource verification by the NUC.
He stressed that despite the lean financial resources of the University, his objective of regularising and expanding programmes is being sustained and accomplished
The Vice Chancellor, maintained that in his nine months on the saddle, he has introduced a number of reforms aimed at modernising administration and management, upgrade teaching and learning, setting up norms and standards and improving Human Resources Management.
He stressed that his vision has culminated in the upward movement in ranking from number seven to number three among the 12 federal Universities established in 2011.
According to the University Don” Our University is ranked 3rd among the 12 Federal Universities established in 2011, 35 in the Country, 122nd in sub Saharan Africa; 221 in Africa and 5024 worldwide.
“Institutionalisation of Academic traditions and ceremonies is one of the key reforms, i initiated on assumption of office in office in February, 2021 , having realised that only two professors had delivered inaugural lectures. We accelerated the process and less than a year, four professors have delivered theirs and many are on the line to perform the academic exercise.
” Also , our bid for knowledge sharing and building strong town -gown relationship, introduced public lecture series and has had profile personalities from within and outside the country making their presentations.
” We have commenced academic programmes at the Permanent Campus at Felele in September 2021. Both Staff and students are gradually getting used to the campus. Despite hitches associated with the relocation, we are making concerted efforts at addressing these” challenges.” He assured.
While commending all the stakeholders for their understanding and support, said , the management is working round the clock to remedy epileptic water supply, power, shortages of furniture and the construction of a standard Health Services Center which have been captured in 2021 budget .
He added that contract have been awarded for the construction of Security Building, Fire fighting Tenders, and a construction of 0.7km under the Tetfund 2020 zonal intervention and has secured the support of Federal Ministry of Power and Housing for the construction of a dualised 1.8km from the main gate to the administrative block.
While commending the Chancellor HRH Alhaji Muhammadu Abali Ibn Emir of Fika , the Pro- Chancellor and chairman of the Council, Senator Chris Adighije and all the industrial Unions for their contributions to the peace and growth of the University, charge students to shun acts detrimental to progress of the university.
Activities line up for the convocation include; Monday Press briefing, Wednesday National conference, Thursday, Convocation lecture, Friday, Juma’at prayer, Chancellor’s Night, Saturday Convocation Ceremony and Sunday 14th November, 2021 Inter Denomination Thanksgiving service among others..
