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UPDATED: FUL VC, Prof. Angela Miri Holds Pre-Convocation Press Briefing, Unveils Achievements

Below is the text of the press briefing:

THE TEXT OF PRESS BRIEFING TO MARK THE 3RD AND 4TH COMBINED CONVOCATION CEREMONY BY THE VICE-CHANCELLOR FEDERAL UNIVERSITY LOKOJA, PROFESSOR ANGELA FREEMAN MIRI, AT THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, ADANKOLO CAMPUS ON MONDAY, 9TH DECEMBER, 2019 AT 10:00AM PROMPT.

Distinguished Press Men and Women, I welcome you most sincerely to another press briefing to mark the 3rd and 4th combined Convocation Ceremony of Federal University Lokoja. It is my pleasure and privilege to equally welcome members of the University Senate, Management, Deans of Faculties, Heads of Departments and Units, Professors, Staff and Students at this event. I am delighted to address you, once again in order to intimate you on our activities since the last Convocation in November, 2017 which was the second convocation ceremony.

Remedial Science and Consultancy Programmes

I would like to inform our Press men and women of the proposal for the establishment of Consultancy Services in the following programmes:

  1. ICT programme in Information Technology such as:
  2. Certificate Course in Desktop Publishing
  3. Certificate Course in Word Processing
  4. Certificate Course in Data Processing
  5. Certificate Course in Web/Graphic Design
  6. Diploma in Data Processing
  7. Diploma in Hardware maintenance
  8. 3 months proficiency Diploma in Teaching Language and Literature
  9. One month proficiency Course in Communication Skills
  10. Remedial Programmes
  11. Certificate Programme in Drama and Film Production
  12. Certificate Course in Journalism

I am delighted to inform you that Remedial Science Programmes commenced in the 2018/2019 Academic Session and the students have been receiving lectures at the Permanent site in Felele; arrangements for the commencement of Consultancy Programmes listed above have been concluded.

Since my assumption of duty it has been my desire that Federal University Lokoja begins operation at the Permanent site where opportunities, especially with respect to the vast space for fast and steady development, abound.

Establishment of the School of Post Graduate Studies

I did mention in my last press briefing that we shall commence Post Graduate Programmes. I am pleased to inform you that sequel to the proposal made by the University Management to the Senate of the University for the establishment of the School of Post Graduate Studies, approval was given by the National Universities Commission (NUC) after a Resource Verification Exercise, Post Graduate Programmes in the following areas available for interested persons or candidates to pursue their careers in any of these fields:

  1. PGD Economics
  2. PGD Economic Planning and Development
  3. PGD Taxation and Fiscal Policy
  4. PGD Peace and Conflict Studies
  5. PGD Legislative Studies
  6. PGD Environmental Management and Conservation
  7. PGD Fisheries and Aquaculture
  8. PGD Chemistry
  9. PGD Computer Science
  10. PGD Applied Geology
  11. PGD Mathematics
  12. PGD Statistics

Master and Ph.D Programmes

The School of Post Graduate Studies have advertised for the admission of candidates into the Master and PhD Programmes in the Faculties of Arts, Social Sciences and Science. Admission exercise for the admissions of eligible candidates into the Master and PhD Programmes for the 2019/2020 academic session has been concluded and successful candidates have been duly notified so as to commence lectures in December, 2019. The beginning of Post Graduate Programmes is again, another important milestone in the history of Federal University Lokoja as this  would definitely afford Federal University Lokoja the opportunity to live up to its tripartite functions of Teaching, Research and Community Development. In spite of the daunting challenges encountered due to limited resources that has adversely affected the provision of more facilities in the University, the Management of the University remains committed in its resolve to move Federal University Lokoja to a higher level academically and administratively.

Commencement of New Undergraduate Programmes and Establishment of Faculties/Departments

The University is set to invite the National Universities Commission (NUC) for Resource Verification of the 29 new programmes approved by the Commission as follows:

Faculties/Programmes

(1) Faculty of Arts

      i. B.A Theatre Arts

      ii. B.A Archeology

(3) Faculty of Social Science

      i. B.Sc Sociology

      ii. B.Sc Mass Communication

(4) Faculty of Science

      i. B.Sc Botany

      ii. B.Sc Biochemistry

      iii. B.Sc Microbiology

      iv. B.Sc Zoology

      v. B.Sc Biotechnology

      vi. B.Sc Industrial Chemistry

(5) Faculty of Management Sciences

      i. B.Sc Accounting

      ii. B.Sc Banking and Finance

      iii. B.Sc Business Administration

      iv. B.Sc Public Administration

(2) Faculty of Education-

Arts and Social Science Education

      i. B.A(Ed) English

      ii. B.A(Ed) History

      iii. B.Sc(Ed) Economics

      iv. B.Sc(Ed) Geography

       v. (B.Sc)(Ed) Political Science

Education

      vi. B.Ed .Guidance and Counseling

      vii. B.Ed. Integrated Science

      viii. B.Ed. Social Sciences

Library and Information Science

      ix. BLIS. Library and Information Science

Science Education

      x. B.Sc (Ed)Biology

      xi. B.Sc (Ed)Chemistry

      xii. B.Sc(Ed) Computer Science

      xiii. B.Sc(Ed) Mathematics

      xiv. B.Sc(Ed)Physics

Vocational and Technical Education

      xv. B.(Ed) Business Education

I am happy to inform you that in addition to the existing programmes, we have offered admission to interested candidates in the areas mentioned.

Full Accreditation of Programmes in the Faculties of Arts, Social Sciences and Science

All the Programmes run before the introduction of the 29 new programmes in the Faculties of Arts, Social Sciences and Science have received full accreditation. We are committed to sustaining the highest standards of all our Academic programmes that would guarantee full accreditation at all times.

Recruitment of Academic and Non-Teaching Staff

In a bid to meet up the manpower needs of Federal University Lokoja, we have equally increased our staff strength with the recent recruitment of academic and Non-Teaching staff that have since joined the services of the University.

Notable Achievements through the TETFund Intervention

We have, in addition, recorded the following achievements through the TETFund sponsored projects:

Completion of the following Physical Projects under the year 2014 TETFund Special Intervention:

  1. Two (2) lecture Theatres with 350 seating capacity
  2. Departmental Office Block

Completion of the following Physical Projects under the year 2014 TETFund Annual Intervention:

  1. Ultra-modern Laboratories/Block of Classrooms
  2. Departmental Office Block
  3. Multi-Purpose Hall

Some other notable projects either completed or on-going are as follows:

  1. Rehabilitation of the Internal Road Network in the Adankolo Campus (Take-off site) - completed.
  2. Re-Roofing and Renovation of Senate/Council Chamber in the Adankolo Campus (Take-off Site) - completed.
  3. Construction of the University Drama Village at the Permanent site (on-going).
  4. Site clearing, Construction of Drainages, Culverts and Fumigation works at the Permanent site (on-going).
  5. Construction of University Gate, Gate House and Mini Perimeter Fence at the Permanent site (on-going).
  6. Construction of one (1) Block of Four (4) Classrooms at the Permanent site (completed).
  7. Construction of Dual Carriage Road, Back filling, Drainage and Culverts at the Permanent site (on-going).
  8. Construction of three (3) Block of eight (8) units Lavatory at the Permanent site (on-going).
  9. Construction of two(2) Blocks of eight (8) units Lavatory at the Permanent site (on-going).
  10. Construction of 12 Nos Classrooms under the NEEDS Assessment Intervention (completed).
  11. Construction of Block of Classrooms and Laboratories at the Adankolo Campus (Take-off site) - completed
  12. Construction of Student Multipurpose Centre at the Adankolo Campus (Take-off site) - completed.
  13. Construction of Departmental Office Block at the Adankolo Campus (Taake-off site) - completed.
  14. Procurement of a brand new Yutong 33-Seater Bus for the students.
  1. Academic Staff Training & Development (Study Fellowship)
  • Academic staff of various Departments were awarded Foreign Study Fellowship to pursue Ph.D programmes in their respective fields through TETFund intervention
  • Some Academic Staff were awarded Local Study Fellowships to pursue their Ph.D Progrmmes through TETFund Sponsorship.

TETFund Conferences and Workshops Attendance

118 Staff (Teaching & Non-Teaching) were successfully sponsored to attend Local and International Conferences/Workshops.

TETFund Academic Research Journals

The following Faculty Journals were being sponsored by TETFund

  1. Journal of Research and Development in Arts and Social Sciences- Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
  2. Confluence Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences- Faculty of Science

We are striving to increase and improve on the existing Facilities and to equally lay emphasis on staff Training and Development so that the University would be able to cope with the increasing number of students.

Remodeling and Expansion of University Health Services Centre

The University Health Services Medical Centre was hitherto a "3 bed clinic" which  Management considered paramount to expand and remodel in order to meet up with the growing number of staff and students, but to handle more complicated health related issues/specialized cases would be referred to the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja or Kogi State Specialist Hospital. The remodelled and expanded Medical Centre which would be equipped with modern facilities will equally serve the neighbouring community. The facility comprises Theatre, Delivery Suite, Call rooms, Laundry Room, Emergency Room, Paediatric Wards, Female Wards, Male Wards, Pharmacy, Consulting Rooms, Offices and e-Medical records, Server Room amongst others. Thus, facility was commissioned on Thursday, 26th September, 2019.

University Library

The Library, being the heart of the University has also built up its collection of books to nine thousand (9000) titles; we have equipped the Library to the level that Undergraduates, Masters and Ph.D students can carry out studies in diverse fields without much stress as the researchers would find in our collections latest and relevant materials. The Library is equally open to those who are neither staff nor students, provided they would abide by our rules and regulations. We have acquired bindery equipment to enable Library carryout book mending and bindery services for staff, students and the host Community. This bindery service has therefore been expanded to provide revenue for the University.

Memoranda of Understanding (MoU)

The University has signed several Memoranda of Understanding within and outside the country all in our bid to promote research and internationalization. During the Morgan State University Sesquicentennial (150 years) celebration, I, on behalf of Federal University Lokoja signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the global event. Staff and students of our University can now apply for higher degrees to study at this world renowned Research based University.

We have also signed MoU with Nigeria Metrological Agency (NiMET), an agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria under the Ministry of Aviation, to promote capacity of the University with regards to providing necessary tools for the delivery of products and services to different sectors connected to Meteorology/Climatology and climate change in the country. NiMet and FUL, again agreed to collaborate in the areas of researches that could result in high quality output in meteorology/climatology and climate change. NiMet would provide facilities like observatory station in the right location in FUL and has agreed to train University personnel to operate it. The University and environs are already benefitting from the weather reports generated by the Department of Geography. Another MoU was signed with the Galilee International Institute to promote research.

Promotion of Staff

Promotion of eligible staff members is a top priority of the University Management and Council; therefore, we have ensured that staff members are promoted as at when due. The University Governing Council had in the 2017 and 2018 promotion exercises approved the promotion of 292 staff members.

Graduation and Admission of Fresh Candidates

It will be yet another historic event come Saturday, 14th December, 2019 when the Chancellor, His Royal Highness Alhaji (Dr) Muhammadu Abali Ibn Muhammadu Idriss CON, the Emir of Fika and Chairman, Yobe State Council of Chiefs and Emirs would be awarding first degrees to our 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 Graduands.  I have always reiterated the fact that Students of Federal University Lokoja would always graduate in record time and to God be the glory, we are graduating two sets exactly two (2) years after the last Convocation.  The University has thus maintained a stable Academic Calendar which I believe is one of the motivating factors that has inspired many candidates to choose Federal University Lokoja as their University of first choice. In 2019/2020 Academic Session we had received so far over 2,600 applications and only 1,500 will be admitted based on our limited carrying capacity.

Relationship with Host Communities

The University Management has, since my assumption of duty established cordial relationship with the immediate host Communities, Adankolo, Felele and other communities in Lokoja and environs. We have realized that these host communities are stakeholders that would readily give their support especially with respect to promoting enduring peace that will enhance steady development of the University. Hence, our partnership.  

Conclusion                                                                                                                      

I conclude this Press Briefing by giving the Almighty God the glory for His enduring mercies which have successfully seen us through yet another academic session. We are indebted to the Visitor, President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR; Honourable Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu; and the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, Professor Abubakar Adamu Rasheed, MFR, FNAL. I owe the Chancellor, His Royal Highness, Alhaji (Dr) Muhammadu Abali Ibn Muhammadu Idriss CON a debt of gratitude for the very strong moral support he has given us. I remain ever grateful to the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Emeritus Professor Nimi Dimkpa Briggs and Members of Council, Senate, Management, Staff and Students. Distinguished Members of the fourth Estate of the realm, thank you for honouring our invitation, which to me, suggests your interests in the progress of Federal University Lokoja. I, on behalf of the University Council, Senate, Management, Staff and Students hereby assure all our stakeholders and members of the Public that we are committed to building a University of our dream where Excellence is the watch word.

Thank you for listening.

 

Professor Angela F. Miri
Vice-Chancellor

  

  


The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Angela F. Miri and her Management Team in a group photograph with Journalists after the Press Briefing

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