Federal University Lokoja (FUL) has announced plans to confer honorary degrees on three prominent Nigerians, including business mogul Alhaji Dahiru Mangal, Iyaloja-General Chief Mrs Folashade Tinubu-Ojo and veteran investigative journalist Babajide Kolade-Otitoju, as the institution prepares to graduate 5,638 students at its 10th Convocation Ceremony on November 14.
The Federal University Lokoja (FUL) will on Saturday graduate a total of 5,638 students including 24 first class, 881 Second Class Upper, 2,928 Second Class Lower and 953 obtained Third Class at its 10th Convocation Ceremony holding on Saturday.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Gbenga Solomon Ibileye, disclosed this on Monday during a pre-convocation briefing on the institution’s achievements and preparations for the ceremony scheduled to hold at its Felele Main Campus in Lokoja, Kogi State.
According to him, the University will graduate a total of 5,638 students of the Class of 2026. Of this number he said 4,828 will receive first degrees, 182 diplomas, and 628 postgraduate qualifications.
He also disclosed that 24 will graduate with first class honour , 881 Second Class Upper, 2,928 Second Class Lower and 953 obtained Third hird Class.
The Vice Chancellor said , the largest graduating class is from the faculty of life sciences, with 1,024 graduands, followed by the Faculty of Education with 806 and the Faculty of Arts with 773.
At the postgraduate level, the Vice Chancellor revealed that the University will award 46 Postgraduate Diplomas, 162 Professional Master’s degrees, 238 Academic Master’s degrees and 182 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees.
Ibileye further disclosed that the institution will also confer honorary degrees on three distinguished Nigerians: entrepreneur, Alhaji Dahiru Mangal, a businesswoman and Iyaloja-General, Chief Mrs Folashade Tinubu-Ojo and veteran journalist and Director of News at TVC, Mr Babajide Kolade-Otitoju, in recognition of their contributions to commerce, industry, journalism and humanity.
On academic development, the Vice-Chancellor disclosed that eight programmes secured full accreditation from the National Universities Commission (NUC) earlier this year.
He mentioned the programmes to include Mass Communication, Computer Science, Education Mathematics, Integrated Science, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Microbiology and Sociology, noting that another 10 programmes are currently undergoing accreditation.
He further announced that the University had secured approval for 14 new academic programmes following resource verification by the NUC, with pioneer students already admitted for the 2026/2027 academic session.
“The new programmes include Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, Data Science, Software Engineering, Actuarial Science, Procurement Management, Psychology, Social Work, Criminology and Security Studies, Entrepreneurship Studies, Film and Multimedia Studies, Broadcasting Journalism, Fisheries and Aquaculture, and Agricultural Economics” he said.
Ibileye stressed that the University’s expansion drive would not compromise academic standards, noting that growth must be supported by adequate resources, systems and institutional capacity.
“Our guiding principle is straightforward: Expansion must never outpace quality. Growth must be matched by the resources, systems and capabilities required to sustain it, and every certificate awarded by this University must command confidence wherever it is presented,” he said.
On infrastructure development, Ibileye said the University had successfully accessed several intervention funds, including its Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Annual Intervention allocation, a N335 million NEEDS Assessment Intervention, special interventions of N700 million and N400 million for laboratory and classroom development, as well as a N300 million zonal intervention for infrastructure projects.
He explained that the funds had been channelled into priority projects aimed at improving the teaching and learning environment and advancing the University’s strategic objectives.
