The Governing Council of the Federal University Lokoja has been widely commended for demonstrating courage, objectivity, and uncommon institutional discipline in the appointment of Professor Gbenga Ibileye as the new Vice, Chancellor of the university.
Members of the university community have described the decision as a triumph of merit over sentiment, noting that the Council resisted pressures that have historically undermined similar processes, choosing instead to be guided strictly by competence, track record, and the long term interest of the institution.
By this singular decision, the Council has broken a long standing psychological and institutional barrier, decisively ending the notion that leadership excellence must always be sourced from outside the university. Observers say the appointment sends a powerful message that the Federal University Lokoja is richly endowed with capable, experienced, and visionary human resources nurtured within its own system.
Staff and students alike have praised the Council for restoring confidence in the university’s internal processes and for reaffirming the principle that dedication, institutional loyalty, and proven service will be recognised and rewarded.
A member of the university council who would want his name withheld said, the choice of Ibileye is unanimous, and that he is personally proud.
“This outcome strengthens the institution and should be celebrated by all” he emphasised
Professor Ibileye’s appointment is widely seen as evidence that the university has matured and is now confident enough to trust its own capacity. Having served the institution from its formative years, and having occupied several strategic academic and administrative positions, his emergence underscores the depth of competence available within the university system.
The Council’s action has therefore been hailed not merely as an appointment, but as a deliberate statement of principle, one that affirms that excellence, not sentiment or external influence, will determine leadership at the Federal University Lokoja.
Many believe this decision has permanently broken the yoke of past practices, opening a new chapter in which internal capacity, professionalism, and merit are firmly established as the pillars of governance at the university.
Professor Gbenga Ibileye is a distinguished Nigerian academic and lecturer in the Department of English and Literary Studies with a research career spanning nearly three decades, he specializes in Critical Discourse Analysis, Pragmatics, Applied Linguistics, and Forensic Linguistics. Prof. Ibileye is a respected authority in his field, renowned for his significant contributions to English and Literary Studies in Nigeria and Africa
