As part of efforts toward maintaining peace in the University, the Management of Federal University Lokoja (FUL) led by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Angela Freeman Miri has on Wednesday, 6^th November, 2019 enlisted the support of the Nigerian Army. The Vice-Chancellor along with her Management Team was warmly received by Major General Bamidele Ogunkale, the Commander, Command Army Records, Chari Maigumeri Barracks, Lokoja, Kogi State.

In her remarks, the Vice-Chancellor said since her arrival in the University, the University Management has been working in collaboration with all the security agencies in Kogi State including past and present Commissioners of Police, Department of State Services (DSS), Director-General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps amongst others to ensure peace and stability in the University. She expressed deep appreciation to the Nigerian Army for showing interest in the wellbeing of Staff and Students of Federal University Lokoja.

Prof. Miri pleaded with the Commander to throw his searchlights on the University to prevent the students from being used for political gains especially at a time when the State is warming up for the Governorship and Kogi West Senatorial elections slated for 16^th November, 2019. She solicited the support of the Army in the area of maintaining constant patrols and surveillance at the University’s Permanent Site, Felele especially over the planned movement to the Site by the end of November for the next meeting of the Governing Council. “This will provide a sense of security and we will feel more secured to render the services that we are expected to render and carry out our mandate as a university in training future leaders and manpower for the development of the country,” she noted.

The Vice-Chancellor explained that the planned movement to the University’s Permanent Site in Felele is paramount in order to give room for further developments having introduced more faculties and new programmes. She added that there is need to provide conducive office accommodation for the newly employed staff in those new faculties. She reiterated her administration’s determination and commitment to maintaining high standards that will make FUL one of the best in the comity of universities.

The Commander, Command Army Records Lokoja, Major General Bamidele Ogunkale, while reacting said he has conducted personal research and gathered intelligence on the University and therefore expressed the Army’s preparedness to support the University in making sure that the existing peace is sustained. He said that those who were bent on fomenting trouble or instigating others to cause security breach in the University will be handled squarely. He commended the achievements of the Vice-Chancellor and the efforts of the University Management especially in the way and manner it handled some of the recent security challenges in the University.

Major General Ogunkale equally used the opportunity to commend the Vice-Chancellor for her courage and doggedness in maintaining high standards for the rapid development of the young University in spite of the daunting challenges and leadership tussles her administration has faced since inception. The Commander, who narrated similar ordeals as former Director-General, Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) and Nigeria’s Premier Arm Manufacturing Industry, urged the Vice-Chancellor not to be deterred by those who do not mean well for the University and are hell-bent on undermining her efforts, adding that in the process of putting things right and introducing new reforms in any system, some of such measures would certainly face resistance in some quarters.

High point of the interaction was presentation of a book entitled “BETTER IS THE END OF A MATTER” to the Vice-Chancellor. The book was written by the Army Commander at the end of his successful tenure as the Director-General of DICON, having experienced what leadership tussle was all about.

The meeting was attended by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Makanjuola O. Osagbemi; the Registrar, Mr. Suleman Usman Obansa; the University Librarian, Dr. Ezra Gbaje Shiloba, Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. Joseph Abel; the Chief Security Officer, Mr. Francis Okeme; the University’s Public Relation Officer and Mr. Bello Emmanuel Ayodele amongst others.

 

 

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