Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, has entered into a formal partnership with the Federal University, Lokoja, to begin running degree programmes at the institution.
The announcement was made in a statement issued by the Director of Public Relations and Protocol, Uredo Omale, in Lokoja on Sunday the 24th of August, 2025.
“In the landmark agreement signed on Friday, August 22, 2025, at the University’s Senate Hall, a Study Centre will be established at the Polytechnic Main Campus, Lokoja, for the running of regular undergraduate degree and Top-Up programmes.
The regular degree programmes provide opportunities for interested applicants to apply for available courses through UTME and Direct entry modes.
The Top-Up mode of the agreement will facilitate the conversion of Higher National Diploma certificates into corresponding and available undergraduate degree programmes. The Top-Up programmes will be offered on both part-time and a full-time basis.
The MoU also covers staff and student exchange programmes, equipment sharing for practicals to strengthen joint research and collaborative learning initiatives,” the statement read.
Speaking on the agreement, the Rector, Professor Salisu Usman, described it as “historic in all ramifications,” noting that it would stand out as one of the defining achievements of his tenure and a legacy of Federal University Lokoja’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Olayemi Akiwunmi.
He explained that the Polytechnic has the manpower, infrastructure, and safe academic environment to drive the collaboration successfully.
Usman also pointed out that every programme currently offered at the Polytechnic has full accreditation, including those that were not accredited before his administration.
According to him, the institution’s accredited courses will strengthen the collaboration, while assuring that the Polytechnic would strictly adhere to the MoU.
On his part, the Vice Chancellor of Federal University Lokoja, Professor Olayemi Akinwunmi, welcomed the agreement as the fulfilment of a long-awaited goal.
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He credited its success to strong leadership and the cordial relationship between the two schools.
He stressed that the partnership would boost the growth of education within Kogi State and beyond, calling for immediate implementation.
Akinwunmi also praised the Polytechnic’s commitment to broadening access to higher education.
Also speaking, the Director of the Centre for Distance and E-Learning at the University, Professor Musa Adeku Ibrahim, explained that the idea of a Study Centre started with a letter of intent from the Polytechnic on the 12th of February, 2025.
He added that the University Senate gave its approval on the 7th of August, 2025, after a verification exercise. He further described the MoU as a major milestone of Professor Akinwunmi’s leadership.
In a closing remark, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics), Professor A. E. Bala, thanked the Rector of the Polytechnic for clarifying concerns that arose during the process and promised that the University would stay committed to the agreement.
The signing ceremony was attended by principal officers and senior management teams from both institutions.