The Federal University Lokoja (FUL) is set to graduate 5,638 students at its 10th convocation ceremony on Saturday, including a member of its pioneer Safety Management class who currently oversees offshore operations for QatarEnergy.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Gbenga Ibileye, disclosed this on Monday during a press briefing marking the commencement of activities for the university’s 10th convocation ceremony.

According to Ibileye, the graduate, who serves as an offshore installation manager with QatarEnergy, is among the pioneer students of the university’s Centre for Safety Management.

He explained that the centre would graduate 22 master’s degree candidates and 11 postgraduate diploma students, adding that five members of the class are international students, several of whom are expected to participate in Saturday’s ceremony virtually from different parts of the world.

The Vice-Chancellor described the development as evidence of the university’s growing international recognition and academic relevance, noting that the decision of a professional overseeing offshore operations in Qatar to pursue advanced studies in Lokoja reflects increasing confidence in the institution’s academic programmes.

He said the achievement demonstrates the university’s commitment to providing professional training that meets global standards and responds to the needs of different industries.

The safety management graduates are part of the 5,638 students expected to receive various degrees, diplomas and postgraduate qualifications at the ceremony.

The graduating class comprises 4,828 first-degree recipients, 182 diploma holders and 628 postgraduate students. Out of the 4,786 honours degree graduates, 24 earned First Class honours, 881 graduated with Second Class Upper, 2,928 obtained Second Class Lower, while 953 finished with Third Class honours.

The Faculty of Life Sciences recorded the highest number of graduates with 1,024 students, followed by the Faculties of Education and Arts with 806 and 773 graduates, respectively.

The university will also confer honorary degrees on three distinguished Nigerians: businessman Dahiru Mangal; Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, the Iyaloja-General; and Babajide Kolade-Otitoju, Director of News at TVC.

The 10th convocation ceremony is themed, “Fifteen Years, Ten Convocations: Consolidating Excellence, Building Partnerships and Shaping the Future.”

Funding and Institutional Expansion

Speaking on the university’s developmental strides, Ibileye disclosed that the institution had secured a ₦3 billion grant from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for the establishment of a Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Cyber Sciences.

He added that the university had also benefited from other TETFund interventions this year, including ₦700 million and ₦400 million allocations for laboratory and classroom development.

On academic development, the Vice-Chancellor said eight programmes secured full accreditation from the National Universities Commission (NUC) this year, while 10 others are undergoing assessment.

He further disclosed that 14 new academic programmes, including Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security and Data Science, admitted their first set of students for the 2026/2027 academic session.

Ibileye also announced that construction had commenced on a pedestrian flyover at the university’s main entrance along the busy Lokoja-Okene Road, while plans were underway for a ₦3 billion public-private partnership to establish a model student hostel.

He noted that the university’s science laboratory building, supported by the BUA Group, had reached the roofing stage.

Other developments include the deployment of 10 Starlink internet terminals, migration of all 100-level courses to a new learning management system and the appointment of the institution’s first grants officer.

According to him, the appointment has strengthened the university’s research drive, with academic staff submitting more than 50 research grant proposals.

Challenges and Staff Welfare

Despite the achievements, the Vice-Chancellor acknowledged that rising operational costs, increasing student enrolment and inadequate funding continued to pose challenges to the university’s development.

He said delays in the release of approved funds had affected the implementation of some projects, while the condition of certain access roads and student accommodation remained a source of concern.

Emphasising the need to maintain academic standards amid expansion, Ibileye stated that “expansion must never outpace quality.”

On staff welfare, he disclosed that the university had settled some outstanding allowances and promotion arrears, while efforts were ongoing to clear remaining obligations as resources become available.

He also revealed that 21 academic staff members had benefited from TETFund training support amounting to ₦158.9 million.

The Vice-Chancellor further announced changes in the leadership of two key administrative offices following the retirement of Bursar John Sule Shilo and University Librarian Sarah Dauda Yani, who both completed six years in office last week.

They have been succeeded by Sanusi Halidu Abubakar and Florence Ajani, respectively.

Week-Long Convocation Activities

The university’s 10th convocation activities will continue until Sunday, featuring several academic and social events.

A research fair is scheduled for Tuesday, while the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sola Enikanolaiye, will deliver the convocation lecture on Thursday.

The lecture is titled, “Nigeria and the Emerging Global Order: Preparing the New Generation for Leadership.”

Other activities include a colloquium in honour of Professor Olu Obafemi, a convocation play and the Chancellor’s Night.

The week-long programme will conclude on Sunday with a thanksgiving service.

The university announced that Saturday’s convocation ceremony will be streamed live on its official YouTube and Facebook platforms to enable families and other interested persons who cannot travel to Lokoja to participate.