FUL To Graduate 5,638 Students, Embarks On N3bn Hostel Project

The Federal University Lokoja (FUL) is set to graduate a total of 5,638 students at its 10th convocation ceremony, while advancing a N3 billion Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project for the development of a model hostel to address its accommodation deficit.

The vice-chancellor, Professor Gbenga Solomon Ibileye, disclosed this during the university’s 10th convocation press briefing, where he outlined the institution’s academic achievements, infrastructure development and strategic initiatives.

According to him, the graduating students comprise 4,828 first-degree recipients, 182 diploma holders and 628 postgraduate graduands.

Ibileye said of the first-degree graduands, 4,786 would receive honours degrees, while the remaining candidates would be awarded other first-degree qualifications. The Faculty of Life Sciences would produce the largest graduating class

with 1,024 students, followed by the Faculty of Education with 806 and the Faculty of Arts with 773.

At the postgraduate level, the university would award 46 Postgraduate Diplomas, 162 Professional Master’s degrees, 238 Academic Master’s degrees and 182 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees.

The Vice-Chancellor said the proposed N3 billion model hostel project had reached an advanced stage of regulatory approval, expressing optimism that implementation would commence soon. He added that the project would also incorporate conference facilities and serve as a sustainable source of internally generated revenue (IGR).

On infrastructure development, Ibileye said the university had successfully accessed several intervention funds, including its TETFund Annual Intervention allocation, ₦335 million NEEDS Assessment Intervention, special interventions of ₦700 million and ₦400 million for laboratory and classroom development, as well as a ₦300 million zonal intervention for infrastructure projects.

He said the funds had been channelled towards priority projects aimed at improving the teaching and learning environment and strengthening the university’s capacity to fulfil its academic mandate.

The Vice-Chancellor identified the General Science Laboratory Building being constructed with the support of BUA Group at the Felele Campus as one of the institution’s major ongoing projects.

He explained that following a review of the original intervention programme, only six universities nationwide retained their projects, with Federal University Lokoja among the selected beneficiaries.

He said the facility had already been roofed and, upon completion, would expand laboratory capacity and enhance practical teaching and learning in the sciences.

Ibileye further disclosed that the university had renovated lavatories, rehabilitated boreholes, improved water supply systems, procured 200 sets of classroom furniture and upgraded its Multipurpose Hall as part of efforts to improve existing infrastructure.

He said the university had also commenced construction of a pedestrian flyover at its main gate following the completion of geotechnical and soil investigations, describing the project as a critical safety intervention in view of the heavy vehicular traffic along the Lokoja-Okene Road corridor.

The Vice-Chancellor said the university’s infrastructure development agenda was guided by sustainability, resilience and long-term institutional growth, noting that investments in classrooms, laboratories, accommodation, utilities, connectivity and safety were essential to improving students’ overall experience.

He added that the institution’s achievements were being driven by its Strategic Plan 2026-2031, titled “Consolidation, Innovation and Sustainability for Institutional Resilience,” which provides a framework for governance, administration and institutional development.