For us in the Federal University Lokoja family, let us look retrospectively into the year 2022. While there would be strong reasons to lament and hiss, there are several more reasons for which to praise God and thank Him. The eight months ASUU strike (and those of other university-based unions) and the attendant manner of handling by the FG left the campus nearly desolate, and the staff with embarrassing financial and psychological distress. The consequent distortions are still being felt in the system.

However, and in spite of the schism and systemic fissures, FUL, through the forward-looking and dynamic leadership of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olayemi Akinwumi, his management team, and the ever-supportive Provosts, Deans, Directors,  HODs, Professors, and staff (as well as students), has recorded very remarkable progress. The achievements in the form of academic expansion, infrastructural development, partnerships, staff development, and general well-being and individual growth of members of the University community, are hereby cataloged.

The purpose of this documentation is for us to know that, in spite of the challenges, we are not where we were when the year started. Realising this, let us give thanks to God and look forward with expectation to a greater 2023. May Almighty God keep us together in greater love and unity for the greatness of Federal University Lokoja. Happy New Year to us all.

Below is a compilation (though not exhaustive) of over 100 achievements of Professor Akinwumi’s administration including some remarkable progress made by the University within the year under review, among other important events and heartwarming news that wrapped up the year 2022 as compiled by Professor Gbenga Ibileye, Provost, College of Postgraduate Studies and Chris Yahaya, Vice-Chancellor’s Office, Federal University Lokoja:

1. Stakeholders retreat on the year 2022 Action Plan involving Provost, Deans, Directors, Heads of Departments/Divisions/Units, Coordinators, and all relevant stakeholders within the University Community
2. Admitted the first batch of medical students into the MB;BS Programme
3. Allocated 32-seater coaster bus to the College of Health Sciences
4. Established Federal University Lokoja International College, following the commencement of the University Staff School earlier, and approval granted by the Kogi State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology
5. Established the University Senior Staff Club
6. Relocated the Deanery, Faculty of Science and the various Heads of Departments, Directorate of ICT and part of the University Library from the Adankolo Campus to the Permanent Site
7. Allocated office to Centre for Atmospheric Research of the National Space Research and Development Agency (CAR-NASRDA) and subsequent allocation of land for the Centre to commence work at its permanent office complex
8. Construction of roads including the second lane from the gate through the Administrative Block to the hostels and a ring road behind the Administrative Block through the Faculty of Science to the University Library and ICT Center
9. Construction of an Entrepreneurship Centre with modern workshops
10. Construction of a block of 12 lecture rooms
11. Construction of a mini stadium and recreational centre
12. Connection of the University to the national grid through step down/extension of 33KVA dedicated high tension line from the Lokoja/Zango power substation to guarantee 24-hour uninterrupted electricity supply to the Permanent Site and reduce expenses on purchase of diesel for generators
13. Constructed and furnished the University Clinic at the Permanent Site
14. Expansion of the University Health Centre at the Felele Campus (Phase 2)
15. Constructed the security building with a watch tower
16. Electrified the Permanent Site with solar-powered lights to light up the Campus at night
17. Construction of 40 blocks of shops/shopping mall to serve as a commercial zone on Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) arrangement
18. Construction of an access road to the University Farms through the intervention of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to facilitate agro-business in the University
19. Renovated the Faculty of Science Complex at the Permanent Site
20. Renovated male and female hostels for medical students at the Adankolo Campus
21. Building and furnishing of Agricultural Processing and Training Center - Demonstration/Commercial Farm
22. Established FUL Water Factory (under BOT agreement) with the operational license now approved and issued by NAFDAC awaiting commencement
23. Commenced FUL Printing Press on BOT arrangement; all in a bid to boost the internal revenue generation (IGR) of the University
24. Secured the construction of a four-story Senate building at the Permanent Site
25. Received donated solar-powered tricycles with a charging station
26. Received donated security communication kits to the University Security Taskforce
27. Received donated units of public address system (2 Nos.)
28. Received donated 18-seater buses (2 Nos.)
29. Procured a fire service truck
30. Procured official vehicles for the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) and the Provost, College of Health Sciences
31. Constructed and erected signage, a water fountain, and a statue at the front of the University gatehouse, Felele Campus
32. Established a comfort garden with a water fountain to serve as a relaxation center for students at the Permanent Site
33. Mega water project and reticulation around the hostel areas of the Permanent Site
34. Public Hearing and Passage of the bill for the establishment of the Federal University Lokoja Teaching Hospital by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, now awaiting the President’s assent.
35. Deployed wireless internet cloud at the College of Health Sciences, Adankolo Campus
36. Promoted six (6) Senior Lecturers to the rank of Reader/Associate Professor
37. Promoted 13 Academic Staff to the rank of full Professor, and five (5) others to Reader/Associate Professor
38. Promoted all categories of Non-Academic Staff, including Deputy Registrars, Deputy Bursars, and Deputy Directors
39. Interviewed and appointed a new Registrar
40. Interviewed and appointed the University Chief Security Officer (CSO), Directors of the University Health Services (UHS) and Physical Planning and Development Department (PP&DD)
41. Carved out the Directorate of Works from the Physical Planning & Development Department, and domiciled the Transport Unit in the new Directorate of Works
42. Engaged hunters and forest guards to complement the University security system at both Campuses
43. Historic appointments of Prof. Francisca Oladipo (former Director of Quality Assurance and HOD Computer Science) as Vice-Chancellor, Thomas Adewumi University (TAU), Oko-Irese, Kwara State; and Mr. Usman Abdulkadir as Registrar of the same University. These particular appointments were unprecedented in the history of the twelve-year-old University and happened in less than two (2) of the current administration through its open-door and all-inclusive style of leadership.
44. Resource verification and advisory visits by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), and the approvals both agencies gave for the commencement of MB;BS programme in FUL
45. Secured NUC’s approval and resource verification of all the programmes in the Faculties of Education and Management, including other programmes like Mass Communication, French, Philosophy, Music, Archaeology, CRS, IRS, Arabic, Biotechnology and Industrial Chemistry; while all the existing programmes in the Faculties of Arts and Social Sciences earned NUC’s full accreditation status after the Re-accreditation exercise conducted
46. Concluded arrangements for the Resource Verification of the Faculty of Engineering, Nursing Sciences, Pharmacy, and Medical Laboratory programmes to commence in the next admission exercise
47. Commenced programmes under the Institute of Governance and Development Studies which kick-started at the Abuja Center, including some programmes on Legislative Studies, run in collaboration with the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), National Assembly, Abuja
48. Acquired radio broadcasting license for the Department of Mass Communication and plan to expand the Department into a full-fledged Faculty
49. Increased federal allocation, which was less than one billion Naira when summed since the inception of the University, to over two billion Naira
50. Repositioned the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) with a special committee charged to develop a corruption prevention guide, unveiled two (2) dedicated lines to members of the University Community and the general public in a bid to fight corruption in the University
51. Secured Federal Government Scholarship worth two hundred and fifty thousand Naira (N250,000.00) per session to about twelve students each for a period of three (3) years through the office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic)
52. Secured another Federal Government Scholarship worth two hundred and fifty thousand Naira (N250,000.00) per session each to about five (5) 200-level students who are Kogi State indigenes for a period of three (3) years through the office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic)
53. Initiated partnership with a leading U.S.-based open online course provider, Coursera Inc.
54. Initiated a partnership with Galaxy Backbone Limited
55. Initiated a partnership with the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT)
56. Initiated partnership with German Cisco Learning Partner – IPnetON, Abuja Branch
57. Initiated partnership with Topmarke Attorneys, LPP - a leading law firm in Toronto
58. Commenced partnership with FUL Alumnus and digital entrepreneur (Wowow Innovations) in building smart campuses through the digital smart card –Waocard
59. Commenced partnership with Trekk Transport Services Limited to introduce and deploy Scooters at the Permanent Site to ease transportation
60. Initiated a robust partnership with the Islamic University of Uganda in the area of its medical programme and others
61. Commenced collaboration with the Ajaokuta Metallurgical Training Complex on the proposed Faculty of Engineering
62. Initiated partnership with Cuban Ambassador for collaboration with Cuban Universities in the area of medical and engineering programmes
63. Initiated a partnership with the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development for sports development at the University
64. Initiated partnership with De Lorenzo, Italy
65. Initiated partnership with Lucas-Nuelle, Germany
66. Initiated partnership with FlexiSAF EduSoft Ltd
67. Commenced partnership with the National Commission for Museum and Monuments through the Department of Archeology and Museum Studies
68. Signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria to secure One Million Naira Home Renovation Loan for staff
69. Signed MoU for the construction of the University’s petrol station with the land allocated on BOT agreement
70. Signed MoU with Intelligent Spaces Limited for a 2000-bed student hostel on BOT agreement
71. Signed MoU with Thomas Adewumi University (TAU), Iko-Irese, Kwara State, among other collaborations and mutual agreements signed by the University with some reputable organisations towards bringing accelerated development to FUL
72. Initiated partnership with Lokoja-born oil magnate Alhaji Abdulrazaq Isa Kutepa, Founder, Chairman/CEO of Waltersmith Petroman Oil Limited who pledged to assist in building a gigantic structure for the University Teaching Hospital
73. Hosted the Minster of State for Education
74. Hosted Ph.D Course 1 class of the Institute of Governance and Development Studies from the Abuja Study Center
75. Organized 8th Inaugural Lecture delivered by Prof. Francisca Oladipo
76. Hosted the maiden edition of the Association of Nigeria University Chaplains (ANUC) North-Central Zonal Conference
77. Received and hosted a delegation from the Federal Ministry of Health on the conversion of Federal Medical Center Lokoja to FUL Teaching Hospital
78. Matriculated 3,584 students at the 10th Matriculation Ceremony
79. Hosted the first summit on the College of Health Sciences
80. Organized a one-day capacity-building workshop for teachers in the University’s Staff School and International College
81. Organized maiden graduation/prize-giving ceremony for FULokoja Staff School
82. Lecture delivered by the Vice-Chancellor on national security at the Defence College, Abuja
83. Presentation of prize to the Best Graduating History Student of FGGC Bwari-Abuja and institutionalization of the award by the Vice-Chancellor
84. Conferment of CFR National Honour on FUL Chancellor, His Royal Highness, Alhaji (Dr.) Muhammadu Abali Ibn Muhammadu Idriss by President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR
85. Conducted first Abdominal Surgery by FUL Medical Experts in the Expanded Health Centre
86. Inaugurated Entrepreneurship Development Board
87. Inaugurated of Parents-Teachers Association for the International College
88. Inaugurated a high-powered Sports Development Committee that produced a blueprint for sports development
89. Organized the maiden edition of the Vice-Chancellor's Fitness Day
90. One hundred and 200-level students sat for and passed ICAN Professional Exams
91. FUL Alumnus announced as a member of the team that developed Omeife, Africa's first humanoid robot
92. FUL first-class student and alumnus secured a fully-funded scholarship to pursue a Master's degree in Mathematics at Purdue University, Indiana, U.S.
93. FUL alumna bagged 7 Ph.D scholarships, and finally arrived at the University of Delaware, U.S. to pursue a Doctorate degree
94. FUL contingents represented the University at the 2022 Higher Institution Football Qualifiers
95. FUL alumnus appointed into National Steering Committee of the Vote-Not-Fight Campaign Organization
96. FUL alumnus appointed as SSA on Humanitarian Affairs to the Kogi State Governor
97. FUL 100-level student emerged as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in Bayern Munich Football Trial in Germany
98. Former student appointed by the Vice-Chancellor as the Alumni Officer of the University, among other students and alumni who are making giant strides and making FUL proud as worthy ambassadors in their various fields of endeavours
99. FUL lecturer appointed into Technical Expert Group to Develop National AI Policy by NITDA
100. Initiated partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO) by the University Health Services, WHO’s provision of relief materials to students displaced by the devastating flood in 2022
101. Regularized the employment conducted by the previous administration and issuance of confirmation letters to those already interviewed in the 2019 recruitment exercise
102. FUL selected among 22 Nigerian Universities and Tertiary Institutions to benefit from the 5.5 billion Naira Grant (250 Million Naira each) by Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa)/BUA Group under its Tertiary Education Grants Schemes (TEGS) for infrastructural development
103. CSR: Community visitation and medical outreach including presentation of cash and gift items to about 262 widows in Ekinrin Adde, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State by the Vice-Chancellor and FUL medical team
104. The administration of Prof. Akinwumi achieved over 70 percent of its five-year Vision Plan for the University in less than two (2) years, while FUL gained more national and global visibility through its established online channels and continuous media presence.

To God be the glory!