FULOKOJA Inducts 615 Graduate Teachers as TRCN Certifies New Professionals

The Federal University Lokoja (FUL) has inducted 615 graduate teachers into the teaching profession at its 3rd Professional Induction Ceremony organised in collaboration with the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).

The ceremony was held on Friday, October 2, 2026, at the University Multipurpose Hall, for graduates who successfully completed the professional qualifying examination and were formally admitted into the teaching profession.

Addressing the inductees, the Vice-Chancellor of FUL, Prof. Gbenga Solomon Ibileye, charged them to uphold professionalism, integrity and excellence as they begin their careers, urging them to remain worthy ambassadors of the University.

Prof. Ibileye commended the graduates for their courage and persistence in undergoing rigorous professional training. He noted the positive feedback from their monitored teaching practice, which he said reflected their professional orientation and academic competence.

The Vice-Chancellor urged the inductees to take pride in teaching, describing it as a noble calling that builds individuals and provides the foundation for every other profession.

He called for stronger government investment in education and teacher training and stressed the need for adequate support for the sector. He also challenged the practice of admitting students into education programmes simply because they could not secure admission into other courses, saying such practice undermines the profession.

According to him, education programmes should attract some of the best students capable of shaping future generations.

Delivering the induction lecture titled The Teacher as a Nation Builder: Ethics, Professionalism and the Role of TRCN in 21st Century Nigeria, the Provost of Benue State College of Education, Oju, Prof. Boniface Odeh, represented by Prof. Emmanuel Eriba Otor, emphasised the central role of teachers in national development.

He recalled the assertion that no country rises above the quality of its teachers, noting that teachers shape the character, capacity and competence of the next generation.

Prof. Otor urged the inductees to remain committed to their learners, uphold professional ethics and serve as role models within and outside the school environment. He added that TRCN would continue to promote continuous professional development to enable teachers respond effectively to changing educational demands.

He called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to improve teachers' welfare and enhance their standing in society.

Also speaking, the TRCN Registrar and Chief Executive, Dr. Mrs. Aderonke Soyombo, represented by Dr. Mary Dozie, congratulated the inductees and described them as a new generation of professional teachers.

She said the induction marked their formal acceptance of the responsibilities of the teaching profession and charged them to contribute to the holistic development of learners and remain willing to learn, adapt and innovate in response to emerging needs.

Earlier, the Dean, Faculty of Education, Prof. Rafiu Ademola Olatoye, appreciated the Vice-Chancellor for his continued support for the faculty and the induction exercise.