The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Federal University Lokoja (FUL), Distinguished Senator Chris Adighije (Ph.D) has said that the welfare of Staff and Students would be his top priority as he leads the 3^rd Governing Council of the University.

You will recall that the 3^rd Governing Council of FUL was inaugurated alongside the Governing Councils of other 12 Federal Universities by the Honourable Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu on Monday, 13^th July, 2020 at the National Universities Commission (NUC) in Abuja.

The new Council Chairman made the remarks while addressing Members of Staff of FUL on Thursday, 13^th August, 2020 at the University Auditorium, Adankolo Campus during his maiden visit to the University. He promised to ensure a conducive teaching and learning environment for staff and students that will bring about rapid development of the University.

Senator Adighije said that the 3^rd Governing Council would make efforts towards improving the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the University as well as its infrastructure, within the available resources, to encourage research and development.

The Council Chairman, who said they have come to sustain the quality academic and administrative standards already established by the present and past administrators of the University, enjoined the staff to be committed and work with them in moving FUL forward.

Furthermore, the Pro-Chancellor pledged his commitment to sustain the existing cordial relationship between the University and the host community, and discourage things that could breed internal rivalries and rancor, capable of derailing the realization of the vision and mission of the University. He noted that Council’s decisions would be based on proper study and analysis of issues in order to avoid unnecessary contentions and divisions in the University.

“I am totally ignorant of the workings of this University and indeed the new environment. Consequently, I will be relying on you to provide necessary information needed to educate me adequately to understand the peculiarities and operations of the University. I will need your ideas and suggestions on how we can together advance the cause of the University,” said Senator Adighije.

The Council Chairman specially thanked President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR for giving him and other Members of Council the opportunity to serve. He expressed his appreciation to the Vice-Chancellor and her Management Team for the warm reception and for creating a friendly environment for them to have their deliberations. He equally thanked Members of Staff for honouring the invitation, even at short notice.

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Angela Freeman Miri, while introducing the Council Chairman to the University Community, described him as a distinguished elder statesman that will engineer the 3rd phase of the University’s development, noting that FUL has entered its next phase of development.

Some of the Staff who spoke during the interaction commended the Council Chairman for demonstrating good leadership qualities by initiating the important meeting, and urged him to live up to his promises as their expectations were high. They prayed for God’s wisdom and guidance, and assured him and his team of their full support.

Some of the activities that took place to usher in the new Governing Council included: tour around the Adankolo and Felele Campuses, visit to the Commissioner of Police, CP Ede Ayuba, visit to the Maigairi of Lokoja, HRH Alhaji Muhammadu Kabir Maikarfi III, and the inaugural meeting of the 3^rd Governing Council.