Vice-Chancellor, Federal University, Lokoja (FUL), Olayemi Akinwumi, says that the institution, under his leadership, is implementing policies that will promote entrepreneurial activities and orientation among its students.
Akinwumi stated this at a media briefing to kick-start the 5th convocation ceremony of the institution, at the Felele campus of the university, on Monday in Lokoja.
The vice-chancellor said that the university, established in 2011, was implementing a strategy that would equip its students with relevant skills and the mindsets they would require to navigate the realities of life after graduation.
According to him, it is within this context that management of the institution is strengthening the Entrepreneurship Development Centre to promote entrepreneurial activities and orientation among the students.
Akinwumi said that the institution would confer degree and postgraduate diploma on 804 graduands at the grand finale of the convocation ceremony on Saturday.
Read also: Comply with building rules, adopt insurance for protection – NIA urges
The classification of degrees to be awarded, according to him is, First Class Honours, 14; Second Class Upper Division, 188; Second Class Lower Division, 441; Third Class Honours, 95 and postgraduate, 66.
The vice-chancellor hinted that the institution was now rated third among the 12 federal universities established in 2011.
Quoting the second edition of 2021 Webometrics ranking, he said that the institution also ranked 35th in the country, 122nd in Sub-Saharan Africa, 221st in Africa and 5,024th worldwide.
“This is a lot of improvement on the January ranking, where our university was ranked 7th among the 12 federal universities, 78th in the country, 255th in Sub-Saharan Africa, 396th in Africa and 1,0604th worldwide.
“Our goal is to emerge the best out of the 12 new universities and be among the top 10 in the country,” he said.
Akinwumi said that the number of professors in the institution had grown from two in February this year to six, stressing that this was the result of the institutionalisation of academic traditions and ceremonies initiated by his leadership.
As part of efforts to achieve the much-needed physical development and programme expansion, he said that the university commenced academic activities at its permanent site (Felele campus) in September.
The vice-chancellor stated that National Universities Commission (NUC) would soon be invited to undertake resource verification and re-accreditation of five newly- introduced programmes, out of the 49 being run by the institution.
He said that the institution was also making giant strides in infrastructure development, including water projects, power, furniture, health facilities, security and fire- fighting equipment, road construction and construction of a new Senate building.
He said that his administration had also carried out a comprehensive staff audit to review and determine the appropriateness or otherwise of staff placements and eliminate ghost workers within the university.
