FUL VC Seals Strategic Partnership with Prof. Ibrahim Gambari to Boost Infrastructure, Funding, Global Visibility

The Vice-Chancellor of Federal University Lokoja (FUL), Professor Gbenga Solomon Ibileye, has concluded a strategic engagement with renowned diplomat and statesman, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, in a move aimed at strengthening institutional partnerships and accelerating the university’s development agenda.

Professor Gambari, a former United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs and former Chief of Staff to the late President Muhammadu Buhari, received the Vice-Chancellor warmly and commended the university’s steady progress within a relatively short period of existence.

During the engagement, Professor Gambari expressed readiness to support the institution in critical development areas, particularly infrastructure expansion and funding access. He pledged to serve in a pro bono advisory and lobbying capacity to help the university attract grants and strategic funding that would address pressing infrastructural gaps, including student hostels, modern laboratories, and administrative facilities.

He also committed to supporting efforts to elevate the university’s global visibility through the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development (SCDDD), stressing the importance of international partnerships, strategic positioning, and institutional branding in today’s higher education ecosystem.

Gambari further noted his existing affiliation with the institution, recalling his delivery of the 4th Distinguished Public Lecture in 2024, and described himself as already connected to the university community. He reaffirmed his willingness to continue contributing to its academic growth and institutional maturity.

On his part, the Vice-Chancellor expressed deep appreciation for Professor Gambari’s commitment, describing the engagement as a significant milestone in FUL’s drive to expand its developmental partnerships and strengthen its long-term capacity for growth and global relevance.

The development is expected to open new channels for funding collaboration, infrastructural advancement, and international academic exposure for the university.