FUL Unveils Centre of Translational Humanities, VC Pushes Innovation and Societal Impact

The Federal University Lokoja has officially inaugurated the Centre of Translational Humanities, with the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Gbenga Solomon Ibileye, describing it as a strategic academic intervention aimed at repositioning the humanities for innovation, industry relevance and societal transformation.

The unveiling ceremony, held on Wednesday, May 28, 2026, marked what the Vice-Chancellor described as a defining moment for the institution, noting that the initiative was designed to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and real-world application across Africa.

Prof. Ibileye said the university was deliberately pursuing a model of academic development that moves beyond theory into practical solutions capable of addressing societal challenges.

He stated that the success of transformative ideas depends on collaboration, intellectual commitment and a shared vision among experts working toward a common goal.

“We are on the verge of making history. Those who change the world do not have to be too many. They come together and harness their brains. I am proud that I have the best brains in this room to change the narrative,” he said.

He added that the Centre was conceived to strengthen the humanities without undermining their academic foundations, while creating pathways for innovation, professional relevance and economic contribution.

According to him, the university intentionally assembled leading scholars and professionals to ensure the Centre delivers on its mandate.

“We have the best in the industry and they are the ones who dominate the industry. We could not have had a more formidable team than this,” he stated.

Prof. Ibileye expressed confidence that the Centre would stand out as a pioneering initiative in Africa, adding that the university was committed to breaking new ground rather than duplicating existing academic models.

“I want to believe that we will be the only university in Africa that has done this. We do not want to produce things that already exist. We want to innovate because those uncharted terrains usually produce breakthrough research,” he added.

The Vice-Chancellor formally unveiled the Centre, describing the moment as historic for the university and for humanities education in Nigeria.

Earlier, the Team Lead, Prof. Akin Odebunmi, said the Centre was the first of its kind in Africa, deliberately structured to convert humanities knowledge into practical tools for societal development.

He explained that the Centre integrates arts, humanities and social sciences into functional frameworks that support policy development, community empowerment, youth engagement, livelihood improvement and economic growth.

He noted that the Centre operates through two main components: the Interventionist Unit and the Vocationist Unit.

The Interventionist Unit focuses on identifying societal challenges and applying humanities-based models in collaboration with government agencies, industries and development partners to deliver practical solutions.

The Vocationist Unit is designed to generate professional pathways from humanities practice, including areas such as content creation, translation, interpretation, social mediation and cultural engagement.