The Vice Chancellor, Federal University Lokoja, Professor Akinwumi Olayemi has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to lift the embargo placed on employment in tertiary institutions in the country.

Professor Olayemi made the call in Lokoja at the fifth Convocation Ceremony and Awards of Degrees of the Institution.

He said the call became imperative due the need for the University to fill vacancy in areas of manpower needs.

According to him the Institution has recently moved up in it’s ranking of becoming third among the twelve Federal Universities, 35th in the country, 122nd in Sub Sahara Africa and 221st in Africa.

The V C said all the 49 Programmes of the University are fully accredited and running concurrently at the Institution. He commended the efforts of the Staff of the Institution at putting in their best toward achieving set goals.

In his speech, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University, Senator Chris Adighije called on philanthropists, public spirited individuals and Corporate Organisations to partner with the Institution to develop the University infrastructure especially the perimeter fence in view of the security challenges in the country.

He charged the graduands to be courageous and strategic in their future endeavors as well as be part of the infrastructural development of the Institution.

In his message to the occasion, the Visitor to the University, President Muhammadu Buhari called on all major stakeholders in the education sector to partner with government to fund the sector.

He said the Federal government is committed to providing quality for it’s citizens stressing that all hands must be on deck to achieve set goals.

14 students graduated with First Class, 188 with Second Class Upper, 441 with Second Class Lower and 95 with Third Class.

Highlights of the Convocation was the award of honorary degrees to deserving personalities including the SSA to the President on Special Duty, AIG(Rtd) Cornelius Kayode Aderanti and Professor Toyin Falola among others.