The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olayemi Akinwumi has been conferred with an award as an "Icon of Enlightenment and Leadership" by the Educational Media and Technology Association of Nigeria (EMTAN), in recognition of his exemplary leadership and outstanding contributions to the development of Federal University Lokoja (FUL), the growth of education in Nigeria, and selfless service to humanity.

Professor Akinwumi received the award at the opening ceremony of EMTAN 42nd Annual International Conference organized in conjunction with the Kogi State Chapter of EMTAN and the Faculty of Education of the University with the theme "Trends in Education and Technology Integration in Future Learning" which took place on Monday, 17th October, 2022 at the College of Health Sciences, Adankolo Campus. 

While presenting the award, EMTAN National President, Professor Lade Joel Adeyanju commended the Vice-Chancellor for working round the clock to ensure that the University keeps moving forward despite the nationwide strike and not being paid salaries throughout the period. He particularly thanked the VC for approving the use of some of the University's facilities for hosting the conference at no cost to them, in addition to giving the Association the needed support towards the success of the programme, saying the level of hospitality they had received has motivated them to meet the objective of the international conference.

The National President while reading his address further stated that FUL was "fast gaining the status of the expectations of a millennium University." This effort, he noted, was "commendable and beautiful." 

Earlier, in his opening speech before declaring the conference officially open, the Vice-Chancellor emphasized that due to the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, the process of teaching and learning at any level must involve a technologically-driven approach, stressing that teaching and learning must be both physical and virtual in line with the 21st Century best practices.

Professor Akinwumi added that the University was in the process of establishing a technology-based unit in the Faculty of Education and a memo which has been submitted to his office to that effect, was already receiving favourable attention.

"We are making a giant stride in our Faculty of Education in terms of teaching and learning. All our courses presented for resource verification scaled through and more courses will soon be submitted to NUC for resource verification. 

"My Administration will not hesitate to partner with experts who can add value to our objectives in various courses by engaging them on Sabbatical leave appointment," the Vice-Chancellor remarked.

The conference which was attended by many participants remotely via Zoom and streamed live on the University's official Facebook page, was also graced by members of the University Management Team and administrators of the FUL Staff School and International College.

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