Idris Ahmed, Lokoja.
The new Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Lokoja, Professor Olayemi Akinwumi, has promised to add value to the university stated mission which is to be the best among the 11 newly established Federal universities and be one of the 10-top ranking universities in Africa.
Prof. Akinwumi who made the pledge during his inauguration on Monday as the 3rd Vice Chancellor of the University, said that though the University currently ranked 7th among the 11 federal universities established in 2011, the Lokoja institution, will move to the first top ten among the Nigerian Universities.
He disclosed that he has personally been to these 11 federal universities established in 2012, and discovered that in the category, the top three universities are Dutse, Ove- Ekiti and Tashare
” He said that the University currently is ranked seventh among the 11 Federal Universities established in 2012, 78th in Nigeria, 255th in Africa and 10,600th in the world.
” We are number 78 in Nigeria, 255 in Africa and 10,600 in the world,
ladies and gentlemen our efforts to improve on our ranking commences today. I possess varied local and global experience, I know this and with determination and the Goodwill of employers the governing board and that of the host community we are succeeding .
” Most importantly, I know how passionate the students and staff of this university are. With all these, I am determined to raise the bar in the standard and fortune of the Federal University Lokoja.
” The university has a unique mission to train employable graduates through competency based teaching, applied research and practical community service to the catchment area, Africa and the World.
“At the interview that gave me this job, I submitted a vision plan that outlined what I will do if I got the job. Now that I have the job, I have reviewed the plan alongside the university’s strategic plan.
“I will share the plan with an expanded management committee and subsequently with the Senate so that it will be adopted and truly owned by the university.” The Vice Chancellor stated.
He said the plan is to build on his predecessors’ foundation and consists of 10 focal areas laid out as key objectives, which include improved funding, institutionalization of university culture, meeting the needs of faculties, departments and units, promoting quality applied research, ensuring students and staff welfare; addressing labour matters, investment in technology solutions for teaching, learning and research; infrastructure development and improved environmental sanitation on campus.
Others are introduction of new academic programmes; establishment of linkages with local and global bodies.
Prof. Akinwumi also revealed that utmost on the agenda is to pursue the generation of funds to augment the Federal Government support and agencies which he said indeed have been giving much in order for the council to commit to an aggregate internally genrated revenue ( IGR) contribution to the university’s annual budget.
The newly inaugurated Vice Chancellor said that by the first week of next month, he will be sharing his vision plan with an expanded management committee and setup a 120-day agenda for the implementation.
As part of action plan, the Vice Chancellor said, monitoring and evaluation and benchmarking will be taken seriously and driven by internal mechanism and external watch agents.
” The covid-19 pandemic has destroyed our world as you all know the destruction has been very pervasive in the Education industry.
“The way we teach, learn, conduct research, attend meetings, seminars and conferences have changed very rapidly in the last year and the changes have come with tremendous challenges, but with equally some exciting opportunities. Remote learning has become a fact of life and we must adjust to it.” He said
On competency based learning, he said the University will introduce some novel ideas to ensure that the students emerged equipped with skills and competence to operate in a digitally driven world.
“We will transform our campus to a beautiful green one. All new undergraduate and postgraduate students must plant and nurture economic tree from entry to graduation.
” By the time I complete my term in 1, 825 days we should have a minimum of 10,000 economic trees on our campus.” The Professor of history has said.
He also plans to map and capture all essential data for education, social and economic services as a repository of information and knowledge and as digital natives, the students will be equipped with skills that will help them understand the science of numbers and how to use numbers to make decisions.
Sports and entertainment will also be promoted vigorously under the watch of the new Vice Chancellor so as to identify a few essential sports and grow their participation so that a national champion in one of them will emerge in three years.
Kogi state Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello represented by the state Commissioner for Education, Mr Wemi Jones, described the new Vice Chancellor as a champion considering his achievements before his present appointment.
” Even before your arrival, we have taken time to find out your antecedents and what and what you have done and we are excited that you are with us in Lokoja at this time.
“God has prepared you specifically to take over the mantle of leadership at this point in time because we need somebody like you and with your kind of profile in Lokoja at this time.” Me Wembe said.
He said the Ministry of Education under his leadership has had a wonderful working relationship with Federal University, Lokoja, (FUL) adding that it is looking forward to more synergy with Education on prime position in the New Direction Agenda of the state government.
