Professor Matthew Ola-Rotimi Ajayi has been appointed as the Director of the newly established Institute of Governance and Development Studies, Federal University Lokoja.

The appointment was announced by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olayemi Akinwumi on Wednesday, September 1, 2021 when he received a report from the Committee on Harmonization of Programmes for the Institute which was also chaired by the erudite Professor. 

Professor Ajayi, while presenting the Committee’s report at the Vice-Chancellor’s Board Room, Felele Campus, stated that the Committee was inaugurated on Tuesday, August 24, 2021 with a clear-cut mandate to harmonize submissions from the various Departments on a variety of disciplines for the proposed programmes in the Institute and submit a report to the University Management within a week. He thanked the Management for the confidence reposed in him and other members of the Committee in carrying out the important assignment.

Professor Ajayi, who doubles as the Director, Center for Distance & e-Learning, specially thanked the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor M. S. Audu for his valuable contributions to the Committee, and together went through the rigours of meeting the deadline for the submission of the report.

In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olayemi Akinwumi noted that the multidisciplinary Institute would play a complementary role that will place the University at the center stage for positive impacts on governance through policy interventions and development programmes, and as well improve the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) drive of his Administration, adding that FUL has come of age. He commended the Committee for doing a thorough work despite the short duration given to them.

Other members of the Committee include Professor Gbenga Ibileye, Dean, School of Postgraduate Studies; Professor Hadi Suberu, Director Academic Planning; Professor Ayodele Bamidele Anthony, Head, Department of English and Literary Studies; Dr. Ejalonibu E. Lawal, Head, Department of Political Science; Dr. Suberu Abdulrahman, Head, Department of History and International Studies; Dr. (Mrs.) Peace O. Irefin, Head, Department of Sociology; and Mr. Cosmas Aiyemo, Finance Officer, Consultancy who served as the Secretary.

Also in attendance at the meeting were the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor M. S. Audu, the Registrar, Mr Usman Suleman Obansa and the Senior Special Adviser (SSA) to the Vice-Chancellor, Mr. Emmanuel Obafemi.

With the submission of the report, it is expected that the advertisement for the various programmes offered by the Institute would be released before the week runs out as assured by the Director.