FUL, Kogi college sign MoU to establish study centre

The Federal University Lokoja (FUL), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Kogi State College of Education, Ankpa, for the establishment of a study centre to expand access to university education.

Speaking after the agreement was signed, the Vice-Chancellor of FUL, Prof. Gbenga Ibileye, said the partnership aligned with the university’s vision of extending its programmes to institutions within its catchment area.

Ibileye explained that the initiative followed an approach by the Provost of the College, Dr Paul Femi Fashagba, who proposed a mutually beneficial partnership after the Vice-Chancellor assumed office.

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Eight months after the initial engagement, the management teams of both institutions met at the Vice-Chancellor’s office to formalise the agreement covering the establishment of a study centre and academic affiliation.

Under the MoU, the proposed centre will offer programmes in Mass Communication, Accounting, Business Administration, Public Administration, Industrial Chemistry, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Computer Science, Business Education, Statistics, Mathematics and Physics, among others.

Ibileye said the university was committed to opening its doors to partnerships that would strengthen teaching and learning.

He commended Fashagba for his commitment to the initiative, stressing that academic standards and procedures would guide the implementation of the agreement.

“Instead of entering into partnership with a university that is so far away, with the attendant logistics issues and cost, the Kogi State College of Education, Ankpa, is entering into a partnership with a university that is just next door to it. Issues of logistics and requests will be handled without having to travel far distances for the officials,” he said.

The Vice-Chancellor assured the college that the university’s quality assurance procedures would apply to the programmes operated under the partnership.

The Kogi State Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Hellen Aderibigbe, applauded the vision of the two institutions’ leaders, saying the agreement would enhance teaching and learning.

Earlier, Fashagba described the agreement as a dream come true for the college and thanked FUL for considering the institution worthy of the partnership.

He said the agreement covered academic affiliation and the establishment of a study centre through which the college would facilitate the conversion of diplomas and other qualifications into degrees, subject to the university’s assessment and requirements.

“The partnership is in the area of affiliation and study centre, where some number of degrees will be granted unto us for conversion of diploma and some other qualifications. After duly assessing us, the university found us worthy. We went into looking at the various areas where we can have relationships and put them on paper,” he said.

Fashagba added that the centre would operate under the supervision of FUL and assured the university that the college would live up to expectations.