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From Emmanuel Adeyemi, Lokoja
The Federal University Lokoja (FUL) has secured a N3 billion grant from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to establish a Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Cyber Sciences as part of efforts to strengthen research, innovation and technological development.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Gbenga Solomon Ibileye, disclosed this yesterday at a press briefing ahead of the university’s 10th convocation ceremony scheduled for Saturday, where 5,638 students will graduate.
Ibileye, who assumed office in February, described the grant as one of the major achievements recorded by his administration in its drive to reposition the university as a leading institution for research, innovation and emerging technologies.
He said the proposed centre would provide opportunities for advanced research, collaboration, capacity building and practical training in artificial intelligence, robotics and cyber sciences.
The Vice-Chancellor also disclosed that the university had submitted more than 50 research grant proposals to national and international funding agencies since the appointment of its first Grants Officer, Dr. Grace Korter.
According to him, the institution had recorded progress in academic development, with eight programmes securing full accreditation from the National Universities Commission (NUC), while 10 others were undergoing accreditation.
He said 14 new programmes, including Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, Data Science, Software Engineering, Psychology, Social Work and Criminology and Security Studies, commenced with pioneer students in the 2026/2027 academic session. “Expansion must never outpace quality. Growth must be matched by the resources, systems and capabilities required to sustain it,” Ibileye said.
Giving details of the convocation, the Vice-Chancellor said the 5,638 graduands comprised 4,828 first-degree students, 182 diploma recipients and 628 postgraduate graduands.
He announced that businessman Dahiru Mangal, Folashade Tinubu-Ojo and veteran journalist Babajide Kolade-Otitoju would receive honorary degrees during the ceremony.
The convocation will also feature the graduation of the pioneer class of the Centre for Safety Management, comprising 22 master’s degree and 11 postgraduate diploma candidates.
On digital infrastructure, Ibileye said the university had deployed 10 Starlink terminals to improve internet connectivity and commenced implementation of a new Learning Management System for digital and blended learning.
He disclosed that all 100-level courses had been uploaded on the platform to strengthen teaching and learning.
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The Vice-Chancellor said the institution was pursuing a separate N3 billion public-private partnership hostel project to address accommodation challenges.
He listed other interventions accessed from TETFund as N335 million for NEEDS Assessment, N700 million and N400 million for laboratory and classroom development, and N300 million in zonal intervention funding.
According to him, construction of the General Science Laboratory Building at the Felele Campus, supported by BUA Group, had reached the roofing stage, while work on a pedestrian flyover at the university’s main gate had commenced following the completion of geotechnical investigations.
On staff development, Ibileye disclosed that 21 academic staff had benefited from the TETFund Academic Staff Training and Development Scheme, with N158.9 million approved for their programmes.
He said 190 of 200 applications for TETFund conference sponsorship were approved, while all 109 applications from non-academic staff were successful.
The university, he added, had introduced a N50 million vehicle refurbishment loan scheme for staff and acquired buses and electric tricycles to improve transportation within the campus.
On student welfare, the Vice-Chancellor said Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) disbursements of approximately N188 million and N199 million benefited 1,631 and 1,665 students, respectively.
He also highlighted the university’s “Vice-Chancellor for a Day” initiative as part of efforts to expose students to leadership and institutional decision-making.
Ibileye said the university had secured access to the European Union’s Erasmus+ programme and was strengthening partnerships with universities in Egypt, South Africa and Canada.
The institution had also renewed its partnership with Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited and signed a memorandum of understanding with the Nigeria-Korea Friendship Institute of Vocational and Advanced Technology in Lokoja.
He acknowledged that challenges remained in accommodation, roads, infrastructure, utilities and funding, but assured that the administration would continue pursuing strategic partnerships and resource mobilisation to address the gaps.
The convocation, themed “Fifteen Years, Ten Convocations: Consolidating Excellence, Building Partnerships and Shaping the Future,” will hold at the university’s main campus in Felele, Lokoja, with online streaming arrangements for families and graduands unable to attend physically.
