From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
Thirty-five students of the Federal University, Lokoja, will on Saturday this week, bag First Class Degrees at the institution’s 2024/2025 9th Convocation Ceremony.
Briefing journalists on the one week lined up activities for the event, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Olayemi Akinwumi disclosed that of a total 5,051 graduands, 3,466 will be conferred with first degrees, 747 diplomas and 838 post graduate degrees.
The VC also revealed that Sherif Ohieku Haruna of the Department of Geology will emerge as the overall best graduating student.
On his achievements since assumption of office, Professor Akinwumi told journalists that “Under his leadership, the University has grown from a modest institution into a multi-faculty University with robust academic offerings. New Facilities and Programmes established during my tenure includes that of Agriculture, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Allied Medical Sciences, Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Law, MBBS, Medical Laboratory Science and Education.
“Virtually all newly introduced programmes have been resource-verified and accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and other professional bodies. The MBBS programme is in its final stage of accreditation by Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN)
“To enhance research, innovation, and community service, we have established Internal Centre for Climate Change, Flood and Environmental Sustainability, Centre for Safety and Risk Management, Institute of Governance and Development Studies, Institute of Gender Studies, Centre for Affiliation Distance and E-learning, and International Centre of Excellence in Environmental Humanities aimed at addressing national and global challenges as well as promotion of multidisciplinary research and policy engagement
“Today, we have recorded 32 Inaugural Lectures, a clear indicator of the renewed intellectual culture. In addition, the University has hosted 20 Distinguished Public Lectures aimed at strengthening the interface between the University and society”
The Vice Chancellor also hinted that staff welfare has remained one of the major priorities of his administration as management introduced measures to ease staff challenges and promote career growth.
“We ensured proper placement and timely promotion of staff in line with due process, and regularized the 2019 employment batch to foster fairness and job stability. We have continued to support staff facing health or family challenges”
