By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.
Federal University, Lokoja (FUL) has matriculated 3,584 students for the 2021/2022 academic session with a charge for them to Be Determined and Not To Be Deterred in their pursuit for excellence.
Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Olayemi Akinwumi, gave the charge in his address to the 10th Matriculation ceremony of the institution at the Adankolo Campus in Lokoja.
Akinwumi said that the 10th matriculation ceremony of the institution was the 3rd to be superintended under his administration as the 3rd substantive Vice-Chancellor of the University.
He said that the matriculation was unique as it came at a time the University was transiting from the “State or condition of extreme academic confusion and agitation to a season of absolute tranquility whether real or perceived.”
The Vice Chancellor regretted that some of the students were supposed to have moved past this level but for the COVID-19 pandemic and the incessant industrial disharmony in the nation’s educational system.
“To redeem the lost time, you must work hard and work smart to ensure that you do not stay one day longer than you are statutorily supposed to stay in FUL.
“The University Management on its part, is committed to your welfare and will do everything within its means to give you a most conducive learning environment and an exciting student experience”, he said.
The Vice Chancellor noted that in the 2021/2022 academic session, 6287 candidates applied to Federal University Lokoja, to study various courses.
He however revealed that out of the number, only 3,584 candidates were offered admission having successfully demonstrated readiness to study at the university by their performances in the qualifying examinations.
Akinwumi said that the university had striven and risen to the top adding that it was now reckoned as one of the best in the country.
“It is no gain-saying that our rising to the top of the league of both the G12 universities and 2nd among universities in the North Central geopolitical zone in the 2021 NUC ranking is a product of God’s grace and sheer dint of hard work, commitment, and sacrifices of Management and staff.
He advised the matriculating students to guard against indulging in cultism, examination malpractices, indecent dressing, cybercrime (yahoo-yahoo), and other fraudulent practices inimical to their academic progress.
He urged them to be committed against all odds to graduate in flying colors and rise from the university to become giants and rule their world.
“I therefore, urge you to choose the latter as you stay DETERMINED not to be DETERRED in the face of all daunting challenges knowing that nothing good comes easy”, he advised.
Akinwumi hinted that all infrastructural development projects initiated within the last 18 months of his administration including the newly established FUL College of Health Sciences, Adankolo, were progressing according to schedule.
He added that the 12 blocks of classrooms; the Entrepreneurship Center, the mini-stadium and the expanded medical center, amongst many other projects were taking place simultaneously to create an enabling environment for our students to thrive.
“In addition, efforts are in top gear to provide accommodation on campus and additional commuter buses to ease transportation challenges for all of you”, Akinwumi assured and congratulated the students.