By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
Federal University Lokoja(FUL) has secured a ₦3 billion intervention from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund for the establishment of a Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Cyber Sciences.
The university management disclosed this on Tuesday while unveiling what it described as landmark achievements recorded within the first 100 days of the administration of Prof. Gbenga Solomon Ibileye as Vice-Chancellor.
The management highlighted major funding breakthroughs, academic advancements and institutional reforms, describing the AI Centre as a strategic project aimed at positioning the institution at the forefront of emerging global technologies.
Speaking on his first 100 days in office, Prof. Ibileye, who assumed office as the university’s fourth substantive Vice-Chancellor on February 16, 2026, said the administration deliberately focused on consolidation, innovation and sustainability rather than “spectacle and display.”
He described the AI intervention as a major milestone for the university, adding that the institution also secured additional interventions from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund.
According to him, the university received ₦335 million for NEEDS Assessment projects, ₦700 million and ₦400 million special interventions for the upgrade of laboratories and classrooms, as well as ₦300 million zonal intervention for infrastructure development.
The Vice-Chancellor further disclosed that the university consolidated and advanced a ₦3 billion Public-Private Partnership investment for the development of a model hotel initiated by the previous administration as part of efforts to strengthen long-term financial sustainability.
On academic development, the university announced that eight programmes, including Mass Communication, Computer Science, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Microbiology and Sociology, secured full accreditation from the National Universities Commission.
Prof. Ibileye also revealed that pioneer students of the College of Health Sciences successfully passed their Basic Medical Examination and had progressed to clinical training, a development expected to produce the first set of medical doctors trained entirely in Kogi State.
As part of institutional reforms, the Vice-Chancellor said the university established a Central Examination Office to strengthen examination integrity, while the Vision Plan 2026–2031 had advanced to white paper stage awaiting formal adoption by the Governing Council.
He added that the administration inaugurated strategic committees, including the Central Accreditation Committee and Security Committee, while also establishing the Directorate of Strategic Communication and Corporate Documentation alongside the launch of “FUL Voice,” the institution’s flagship publication.
On infrastructure and staff welfare, Prof. Ibileye said the university renovated water and sanitation facilities at the Felele Permanent Campus, procured about 200 classroom furniture sets and introduced a ₦50 million staff vehicle refurbishment loan scheme.
He said two coaster buses and 100 computers facilitated by James Abiodun Faleke were also distributed to improve staff and student mobility and productivity.
The institution further secured the construction of a three-storey permanent secondary school through the National Senior Secondary Education Commission.
Prof. Ibileye added that the university launched a “Vice-Chancellor for a Day” initiative to reward outstanding students and promote academic excellence, while also expanding partnerships with globally renowned universities.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to building “an institution that works,” noting that although significant progress had been achieved within the first 100 days, more efforts were still required to address longstanding structural challenges facing the university.