Lokoja – The Federal University Lokoja (FUL), on Saturday, honoured the Late Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr James Ocholi (SAN), with Posthumous Honorary Doctor of Law Honoris Causa.
The award was received on behalf of the late minister by his son at the Maiden Convocation ceremony of the university in Lokoja.
The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Angela Miri, said apart from the posthumous award on late Ocholi, seven other personalities, who had contributed to the development of the University, also received award of honour and recognition.
She said the institution graduated 201 students among which 15 had First Class Honours degree, 76 with Second Class (Upper) division, 90 with Second Class (Lower Dividion) and 24 with Third Class degrees.
Miri noted that within the five years of its existence the University had recorded modest achievements in academics and other social activities.
“All the 11 departments in the University along with 132 academic members of staff participated in the programme which led to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Missouri State University in the United States of America.”
She said within the same period the students’ enrollment had risen from the initial take off number of 599 in the 2013/2013 session to 2,114 in the 2015/2016 session.
The Vice Chancellor charged the graduands to be worthy ambassadors of the institution, and to contribute their quotas to development of their alma mata.
Earlier, the University installed the Emir of Fika, Yobe State, Alhaji Muhammadu Abali Ibn Muhammadu Idriss as the Chancellor of the University.
The Chancellor thanked the Federal Government for considering him worthy for the appointment as the first chancellor of the University.
While considering the appointment to be a divine opportunity to serve humanity, the Emir also thanked the management, Senate, staff and students of the institution for extending their “warm hands of fellowship” to him.
“It can only be expected that we join forces with the well articulated vision of the university during my tenure as the first chancellor, more so that I am now an Alumnus of the young but promising university,” he said.
He, therefore, urged the students to eschew violence, examination misconduct and cultism “which have the tendency of bringing ridicule and disrespect to you, your families and the society at large”.
NAN reports that the Visitor; President Muhammadu Buhari was represented by the Executive Secretary of the National University Commission (NUC), Prof. Adamu Rasheed.
Our correspondent observed that dignitaries including Senators, Kogi State Governor, Vice Chancellors of several universities, witnessed the maiden convocation ceremony of the university.
The University also inaugurated a five billion naira endowment fund for the infrastructural development of the university, with friends and well wishers of the institution making their donations.
