Ahead of the Strategic Meeting of Illustrious Sons and Daughters of Kogi State and Friends of the University which is scheduled to hold on the 13^th August, 2016 at the University Auditorium, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Angela Freeman Miri along with some Principal Officers of the University has paid courtesy calls on some top traditional rulers of Kogi State.  

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Angela Freeman Miri and members of the University Management paid a courtesy call on the Maigari of Lokoja, HRH Alhaji Muhammadu Maikarfi III.  At the Palace of Maigari, Professor Freeman Miri expressed appreciation to the Maigari on the warm reception accorded her and her team.  She stressed the fact that as a complete stranger in the land, she deemed it right to pay homage to the royal father and also to solicit for his royal blessings and support as the new Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Lokoja.

L-R: Professor Angela Freeman Miri, Vice-Chancellor, HRH Alhaji Muhammadu Maikarfi III, Maigari of Lokoja and Habiba Anavoza Adeiza (Mrs.), Registrar during the courtesy call at the Maigari’s Palace in Lokoja

Members of the University Management in a group photograph with the Maigari of Lokoja, HRH Alhaji Muhammadu Maikarfi III during the courtesy at his Palace in Lokoja

 In another development, the Vice-Chancellor paid a courtesy call on the Attah Igala who is the President Kogi State Traditional Council and Chairman Igala Traditional Council of Chiefs, His Royal Highness, Dr Idakwo Michael Ameh Oboni II, JP at his palace in Idah.  The Vice-Chancellor on behalf of Council, Senate, Staff and students of Federal University Lokoja expressed appreciation to the first-class traditional ruler for the roles he has been playing in ensuring that peace reigns within his domain and for his support for the young University.  She said the visit became necessary as she has profound respect for traditional rulers and that right from her assumption of office as the 2^nd Vice-Chancellor of Federal University Lokoja in February, 2016, she had desired to pay homages to traditional rulers of Kogi State in order to receive their royal blessings and solicit for their support.

L-R: Professor Angela Freeman Miri, Vice-Chancellor, HRH Dr Idakwo Michael Ameh Oboni II, Attah Igala and Professor Makanjuola Olayemisi Osagbemi, Deputy Vice-Chancellor during the courtesy call at the Attah’s Palace in Idah

Professor Miri who told the Attah Igala that upon her assumption of duty, she had visited the Maigari of Lokoja, His Royal Highness Alhaji Muhammadu Kabir Maikarfi III, being the traditional head of the host community, also used the opportunity to intimate His Royal Highness the Attah Igala of her vision and plans to move the University forward; to its second phase of development especially her resolve to move the University to its Permanent Site at Felele along Lokoja-Okene road  not minding the Financial State of the Institution and dwindling allocation faced by the University.  The Vice-Chancellor officially handed to His Royal Highness the invitation letter to the Strategic Meeting slated for 13^th August, 2016, in the Adankolo Campus of the University at 10:00am prompt.

In his remark, the Attah Igala who is the Chancellor of Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State, commended the Vice-Chancellor for her giant step and willpower to initiate a discussion with illustrious sons and daughters of Kogi State and friends of the University on how to develop the University to a 21^st century institution.  He promised to support the University in his own capacity by gathering together well-meaning indigenes of Kogi State and friends of the University to the meeting to chart the way forward.  The Attah who was very impressed with the visit of the Vice-Chancellor and her entourage, thanked and prayed extensively that her tenure will be successful.

In a similar move, the Vice-Chancellor paid a courtesy call on the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland and Vice Chairman, Kogi State Traditional Council, His Royal Highness, Alhaji (Dr) Ado Ibrahim.  Professor Freeman Miri and her entourage were warmly received at the Ohinoyi’s Palace in Okene, she expressed her unreserved appreciation on the way and manner in which they were received and also thanked the Ohinoyi on his fatherly role in Ebiraland and the State as a whole. The Vice-Chancellor equally used the opportunity to intimate His Royal Highness of her vision and plans for the University and solicited for his support and royal blessings in order to achieve her dreams for the young citadel of learning, Federal University Lokoja.  In his response, the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland said the need to move to the Permanent Site has become necessary to enable expansion of the University so that additional faculties and programmes can be introduced.  The Ohinoyi who was very exited on the visit and the move initiated by the Vice-Chancellor, had extensive discussion with her and her team and later pronounced blessings on her, members of her entourage and the University.

L-R: Mr. Usman Suleiman Obansa, Deputy Registrar (Council Affairs), Professor Makanjuola Olayemisi Osagbemi, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, HRH Alhaji (Dr) Ado Ibrahim, Professor Angela Freeman Miri, Vice-Chancellor, Ezra Shiloba Gbaje (Ph.D), University Librarian and Mr. Robert Kpanaki, Assistant Chief Security Officer at the Ohinoyi’s Palace in Okene

 The Vice-Chancellor embarked on another visit to the Palace of the late Obaro of Kabba and Chairman of Okun Traditional Council of Chiefs, Late Oba (Dr) Michael Olobayo to commiserate with the wife and the entire people of Okun over the passing away of their monarch.  Professor Freeman Miri said she wished to have benefited from the wisdom of the Royal Father but was not able due his death, however, she said she has taken solace in the fact that the good legacies the late monarch left behind are worthy of emulation.

The Vice Chancellor, Professor Angela Freeman Miri (Left) condoling with the wife of the late Obaro of Kabba, Olori Maria Olobayo during her condolence visit to the Palace in Kabba

The wife of the late Obaro of Kabba Land, Olori Maria Olobayo in her response, thanked the Vice-Chancellor for coming to condole her and her people and prayed that she will succeed in her tenure as the Vice-Chancellor of Federal University Lokoja.  Consequently, the Vice-Chancellor and her team were led to the Palace of Obadofin of Oweland, Chief Mike Yusuff who is the next in command to receive them.  At the Palace of Obadofin, the Vice-Chancellor announced the meeting with illustrious sons and daughters to the High Chief and solicited his support and those of his people to be part of the meeting.  The traditional ruler who said although the invitation was coming to them rather late, promised to mobilize Okun Sons and Daughters at home and abroad for the Strategic Meeting and to do everything within his powers to support the University.

L-R: Mall. Abdulkadir Usman Yakubu, Senior Assistant Registrar, Mr. Usman Suleiman Obansa, Deputy Registrar (Council Affairs), Professor Makanjuola Olayemisi Osagbemi, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, HRH Chief Mike Yusuff, Obadofin of Oweland, Professor Angela Freeman Miri, Vice-Chancellor, Ezra Shiloba Gbaje (Ph.D), University Librarian, Mr. Robert Kpanaki, Assistant Chief Security Officer and Samuel Dakas, Administrative Officer/PA to the VC, at the Palace of the Obadofin of Oweland in Kabba