FUL Vice-Chancellor Calls for Unity, Says Leadership Sees “Only Humanity, Not Tribe or Religion”

The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Lokoja, Prof. Gbenga Solomon Ibileye, has called for stronger unity, inclusiveness, and institutional loyalty among staff, stressing that his leadership approach is anchored on treating everyone as one academic family irrespective of ethnic, cultural, or religious background.

He made the remarks on Friday, April 24, 2026, during a courtesy visit by the FUL AREWA Forum, which came to congratulate him on his appointment as the 4th substantive Vice-Chancellor of the institution.

Speaking during the visit, the Chairman of the forum, Prof. Ayok Jeremiah, described the engagement as a solidarity visit and reaffirmed the forum’s support for the university leadership. He pledged continued cooperation and commitment to the growth and stability of the institution.

In his response, Prof. Ibileye expressed appreciation for the visit, describing his appointment as an act of divine providence and urging stakeholders to sustain a culture of unity and constructive engagement.

He emphasised that leadership effectiveness in a university setting depends on shared purpose rather than divisions, noting that institutional progress is only achievable when staff and stakeholders operate with a common vision.

According to him, his administration is deliberately focused on inclusiveness, fairness, and impact-driven governance, with the aim of strengthening Federal University Lokoja as a centre of academic and institutional excellence.

In a strongly worded statement on unity, the Vice-Chancellor said he deliberately avoids ethnic or religious classification in his leadership decisions.

“All I see are human beings within a shared academic space. My focus is not on culture, tribe, or religion, but on collective responsibility and institutional development,” he stated.

He further described the university community as a “generational transformation project” that requires collaboration, discipline, and shared accountability.

The AREWA Forum, in its remarks, assured the Vice-Chancellor of continued support, while urging management to sustain policies that promote staff welfare and institutional harmony.

The engagement reflects ongoing efforts within the university to strengthen internal cohesion and reinforce a unified administrative culture focused on long-term academic development.