Earlier this week, a two-day workshop on Research Methodology was organized by the College of Postgraduate Studies, Federal University Lokoja (FUL) to acquaint postgraduate students of the University with requisite training in writing high-quality theses and dissertations that meet the global standard as well as advance the frontiers of knowledge. The important workshop which was held on 20th February 2023 at the College of Health Sciences Auditorium, Adankolo Campus was graced by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olayemi Akinwumi who declared the workshop open.

Delivering his opening address, the Vice-Chancellor noted that his administration was very committed to its promise of graduating postgraduate students who are serious about their programmes in record time without unnecessary delay. The VC commended the efforts of the College of Postgraduate Studies for the successful hosting of the first edition of the workshop organized earlier for the students of the Institute of Governance and Development Studies in Abuja in October 2022, saying that he was quite optimistic that this edition would equally be very impactful.

Professor Akinwumi charged the participants to take advantage of the workshop to learn from the array of experienced and quality resource persons drawn from different parts of the world, and ensure that they benefit handsomely from their rich knowledge in research methodology and thesis writing towards producing cutting-edge research that can compete globally.

"The workshop is an integral part of the postgraduate programme of FUL, which aim is to ensure the highest level of quality in the theses and dissertations submitted by our postgraduate students. The vision of FUL is to be among the top ten universities in Nigeria, Africa, and the world. We cannot achieve this without deepening our research efforts and making them to be in tune with the best global academic practices. 

"I want to commend the efforts of the Provost, College of Postgraduate Studies, and his team as well as all our staff involved in graduate teaching in making this programme a reality. I want to assure you that we are determined to run postgraduate programmes that meet global standards and that impart knowledge of the highest quality.

"Our resource persons are carefully selected based on their diverse and rich experience in research methodology. Therefore, expect to share from their wealth of knowledge. I thank all seven of them for agreeing to facilitate their respective sessions," the Vice-Chancellor remarked.

Similarly in his address, the Provost of the College, Professor Gbenga Ibileye enjoined all the postgraduate students at PGD, Masters, and Ph.D. levels to pay rapt attention to the different sessions, assuring the participants that the lectures would be stimulating and intellectually rewarding. 

Professor Ibileye added that the workshop was organized to avail students of the state of the art in the fluid and rapidly changing research environment while reiterating the desire of the School of Postgraduate Studies to produce theses and dissertations that are globally competitive in terms of their processes, structures, contents, and intellectual value addition.

Speaking further, the Provost said: "This workshop is a follow-up to a similar one organized on 22 October 2022 for students of the Institute of Governance and Development Studies at the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Maitama, Abuja. The participants would attest to the high level of delivery and value addition at the workshop.

"The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olayemi Akinwumi who has been very supportive of the programmes in the College of Postgraduate Studies, has used his vast connections to assemble a formidable team of resource persons for the training. The facilitators will be making presentations on seven different aspects of research methodology, which I am certain will enrich the quality of research that you are or will be embarking on."

The high point of the event was the presentation of certificates to the participants by the Vice-Chancellor at end of the workshop. See more pictures here