The Management of Federal University Lokoja (FUL) has expressed profound gratitude to the lawmaker representing Kogi West Senatorial District at the Red Chamber, Distinguished Senator Smart Adeyemi, CON over the recent approval granted by President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR for the upgrade and conversion of the Federal Medical Center (FMC), Lokoja to Federal Teaching Hospital (FTH), Lokoja for the clinical training of medical students of the University's College of Health Sciences (FULCOHS).

The appreciation was made when the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olayemi Akinwumi led other top Management Staff of the University on a 'Thank You' visit to Senator Smart Adeyemi in his office at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja on Wednesday, March 22, 2023. The Management was warmly received by the respected legislator who was greatly surprised but elated to see the powerful delegation from FUL at his office.

It would be recalled that the bill for the establishment of the Teaching Hospital, which was passed into law by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Tuesday, 21st June 2022, was ably sponsored by Senator Smart Adeyemi. The passage of the bill followed the consideration of reports by the Senate Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary) chaired by Senator Yahaya Oloriegbe (Kwara Central) after the Public Hearing held earlier in April 2022 at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja which was attended by the VC and his Management team.

The Vice-Chancellor had recently announced, at a joint media briefing which was attended by the Chief Medical Director, Dr. Olatunde Alabi, and the Provost of FULCOHS, Professor Ozovehe Mike Ogirima, mni, that the Federal Government had approved the much-awaited upgrade of the medical facility for the University vide letter referenced SGF6/T4/380. The development thus received wide jubilation and commendation from different quarters.

Presenting the note of appreciation, written by the Registrar, Dr. (Mrs.) Rebecca Aimiohu Okojie on behalf of the Governing Council, Management, Staff, and Students of the FUL to the lawmaker, the Vice-Chancellor expressed great delight that the President had finally given his assent to the bill.

The letter reads in part: "The University wishes to express profound gratitude for the invaluable role you played to facilitate the process which has become a success story and to thank you for reposing so much confidence in the University. Please rest assured, Your Excellency, that your name shall be etched in gold in the annals of the history of the University and medical education in Nigeria."

Professor Akinwumi added that the University was in a process of immortalizing the Distinguished Senator for his selfless contributions to the development of the Institution. Responding, Senator Smart Adeyemi while congratulating the University for the Teaching Hospital, also thanked the Vice-Chancellor and his Management team for the visit, pledging to donate some medical equipment and beds to the FTH. 

Incidentally, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammed Musa Bello, CON, who was with the lawmaker as of the time of the visit and burst into the conversation, joined the Senator in congratulating the Vice-Chancellor for the groundbreaking feat. 

The Honourable Minister who reminded the VC of what transpired during the Public Hearing of the bill, described Senator Smart Adeyemi as a friend who is truly exceptional and passionate about the country, noting that the vocal lawmaker combines hard work, idealism, and love for Nigeria. Similarly, Senator Adeyemi, in turn, showered praises on the FCT Minister while highlighting some of his endearing virtues. He described Malam Bello as a different Nigerian who personifies uprightness among other sterling leadership qualities. See more pictures of the visit here

Click here to see the video clips

During the visit to Senator Smart Adeyemi, the Vice-Chancellor and his Management team bumped into Senator Isah Jibrin Echocho - lawmaker representing Kogi East Senatorial District - who was re-elected at the just concluded General Elections for another term to represent the good people of Kogi East at the Red Chamber.

Senator Echocho was indeed excited to see the University Management led by the Vice-Chancellor at the National Assembly who then exchanged pleasantries and had a brief interaction with the Management. See pictures here

For more updates, follow Federal University Lokoja on Facebook: www.facebook.com/fulokoja and Twitter: www.twitter.com/fulokoja