Federal University Lokoja has successfully passed the assessment conducted by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for the establishment of a N3 billion Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Cyber Security.
The assessment team, led by Prof. Olufunke R. Vincent, visited the university,to evaluate its readiness for the project. The centre is one of six Centres of Excellence approved across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
Speaking during the visit, the Vice-Chancellor of Federal University Lokoja, Prof. Gbenga Solomon Ibileye, described the exercise as a major milestone for both the institution and the North-Central region. He noted that the university had complied with key requirements set by TETFund, including the appointment of a director for the centre and the establishment of an advisory board comprising industry experts and relevant stakeholders.
According to him, the university has also provided dedicated office space within its ICT infrastructure and put in place other necessary arrangements to support the smooth take-off of the centre.
Prof. Ibileye assured the delegation of the institution’s commitment to ensuring the success of the project, describing the centre as a transformative intervention that would drive innovation, technological advancement and professional development across the North-Central region.
In her remarks, Prof. Vincent congratulated the university on its selection, explaining that the Centres of Excellence initiative was designed to promote cutting-edge research, innovation and technological development in strategic sectors.
She stated that the centre would create opportunities for international collaborations, research grants and global visibility, adding that Federal University Lokoja distinguished itself during the selection process by meeting critical evaluation criteria.
Following inspections of the proposed facilities and engagements with relevant stakeholders, the delegation expressed satisfaction with the university’s level of preparedness and confidence in its capacity to host and sustain the centre.
The assessment team also inspected the university’s solar farm to evaluate its power generation capacity, considering the need for reliable electricity to support advanced research and technological activities in artificial intelligence, robotics and cyber security.
The visit concluded with the presentation of the certificate approving the establishment of the Centre of Excellence, marking another significant step towards positioning Federal University Lokoja as a hub for technological innovation and research in Nigeria.
