The Management of Federal University Lokoja (FUL) has presented the sum of one million Naira (N1,000,000.00) each to two (2) outstanding students who recently emerged as the overall best-graduating students for the 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 academic sessions. The cash prizes were donated by Rt. Hon. James Abiodun Faleke, one of the honorees of Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) conferred by the Institution at its 6th and 7th Combined Convocation Ceremony held on Saturday, October 21, 2023.

Recall that Hon. Faleke, shortly after his conferment of the Honorary Doctorate Degree, announced cash donations of two million Naira to the two (2) female best-graduating students, and promised to institutionalize an award of one million Naira annually to the best-graduating student, amongst other pledges he made to the University.

In fulfillment of that promise, at the 63rd meeting of the Principal Officers Committee (POC) held on Monday, October 30, 2023, at the Conference Room, College of Health Sciences, Adankolo, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olayemi Akinwumi, having received the amount from the donor, presented the cash prizes to the recipients - Zafirah Eneyamire Isah, Department of Chemistry, who graduated with a CGPA of 4.89 (2020/2021 session); and Mariam Oyiza Ibrahim, Department of Economics, who also graduated with a CGPA of 4.84 (2021/2022 session) respectively.

While handing over the cheques to the outstanding graduates, the Vice-Chancellor especially thanked Hon. James Faleke for keeping to his promises. He urged the beneficiaries to utilize the monies judiciously in pursuing their Master's degree. Professor Akinwumi equally announced that the best-graduating students would be absolved as Graduate Assistants in line with the University's policy to encourage academic excellence among its teeming students. 

In their separate remarks, the awardees, filled with great joy, expressed profound appreciation to the donor and the University Management. They averred that the recognitions and prizes would go a long way in assisting them to continue with their postgraduate studies, as well as serve as a motivation to other students to work hard and aim for the best.

The public presentation of the cheques was witnessed by members of the Principal Officers Committee and pressmen. See more pictures here