Olu Samuel, Lokoja

The Federal University,Lokoja will on Saturday confer first and second degrees on 2511 graduands in it’s 6th and 7th combined convocation ceremony slated for next Saturday,22nd October.

The Vice Chancellor of the Institution, Professor Olayemi Akinwumi is press conference marking the commencement of a week long activities heralding the conversation ceremony said that 61 of this number bagged first class while 99 will be conferred with Masters Degree while 128 will be awarded postgraduate Diplomas.

A breakdown of the graduands shows that in the 6th set, 28 graduands bagged First class, 319 second class upper,376, second class honours Lower division, 197 division, third Class honours, 3 had Pass Degrees.

Similarly, in the 7th set, 33 bagged
1st class, 386 second class upper, 668 second class lower division, 250 third class, 1 pass degrees.

Prof. Olayemi disclosed that as at 2023 times higher education ranking, the Federal University Lokoja fall within 51st-60th bracket out of 120 University in Sub Saharan Universities while it ranked 17th position amongst Nigerian Universities and 9th position amongst Federal Universities.

The Vice Chancellor desclosed that all the programs of the University have all been relocated and are now domiciled in the felele Campus.

Prof Olayemi added that the University has commenced the Department of Medicine, Nursing, Engineering, while Agriculture, law, Pharmacy, Psychology and Medical laboratory sciences program he disclosed 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, disclosed that maiden students admission exercise into the Engineering and Nursing program 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 program.

In the area of Community service, the University, the Vice Chancellor have established both Primary and International Secondary Schools where quality education is made.

The University under his tenure, Prof. Olayemi desclosed 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 tue 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 MB;BS students

Similarly, his administration the Vice Chancellor added is carrying out the construction of the 4 story Senate building, the construction of the faculty of engineering in progress said the University has received two 18 seater buses, donated by Dr. Innocent Izoemena Exuma, while he also acknowledge the receipt of a grant of N250m from BUA Cement for the construction of Central labouratory.

The Vice Chancellor assured the host community of more benefit that would be accrued in the future in terms of employment, said the University has also made it a policy for the indigenes to benefit 75% from all the recently introduced professional courses.

Prof. Olayemi however made a passionate appeal to the people of the State, particularly well to do individuals to help in supporting the institution, attributed the cordial relationship existing between him and the staff as a product of the open door policy he operates.