By Abdul Lauya
In a move widely described as transformative, the Federal University Lokoja has launched the Centre for Flood Management and Control, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at tackling the perennial flooding across the Niger Basin. The launch, which took place in Lokoja, marks a significant milestone in the university’s journey from a relatively obscure institution to a rising force in environmental research and policy engagement.
The Centre’s establishment is the latest in a string of strategic achievements under the leadership of Professor Olayemi Akinwumi, whose five-year term as Vice-Chancellor ends in February 2026. His administration, characterized by innovation, transparency, and purposeful academic development, has repositioned the institution as a hub of relevance within Nigeria’s higher education landscape and beyond.
The newly inaugurated Centre is already making an impact. Its inaugural Director, Professor Jimmy Adegoke, is an internationally recognized climate scientist and former faculty member at Kansas City University in the United States. His appointment signals the university’s intent to infuse global expertise into local solutions. Research activities have commenced in collaboration with the Kogi State Government, targeting the region’s most vulnerable communities affected by seasonal flooding.
The Centre’s mandate includes advanced research on flood patterns, the development of early warning systems, grassroots sensitization, and policy advocacy. It is also expected to serve as a training ground for professionals, students, and policymakers in flood resilience and disaster preparedness.
At the launch ceremony, Professor Akinwumi emphasized the institution’s commitment to research-driven, practical interventions that serve both the academic community and the wider society. Stakeholders at the event described the initiative as timely and reflective of the university’s growing stature under the current administration.
When Professor Akinwumi assumed office in 2021, Federal University Lokoja was still consolidating its foundational structures. Within four years, however, it has recorded notable gains in research output, academic visibility, and strategic partnerships. The university’s rise has been linked directly to the Vice-Chancellor’s focused leadership, his ability to attract quality faculty, and his push for interdisciplinary research initiatives aligned with national priorities.
Observers note that the university’s flood centre could evolve into a model for climate resilience research in West Africa. If sustained by incoming leadership after Akinwumi’s exit next year, the Centre has the potential to shape regional policy and disaster management strategies for decades.
The story of Federal University Lokoja, once seen as a modest entrant in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector, is now a narrative of ambition, strategic direction, and transformation. As the tenure of its current Vice-Chancellor nears its end, attention is turning to the legacy of leadership he will leave behind, and the promise it holds for the institution’s future.
