FUL immortalizes late Joseph Makoju

The Federal University Lokoja, (FUL) is to immortalize late Joseph Oyeyani Makoju in the institution.

The Vice Chancellor of the University Prof. Akinwunmi Olayemi disclosed this on Saturday during the ground breaking ceremony of the 250 seat capacity Lecture Theatre of Late Eng. Joseph Oyeyani Makoju memorial hall held at the Felele campus in Lokoja. 

Akinwunmi expressed gratitude to the family for their unwavering commitment and support to the institution stressing that, their generous donation will not ‘only enhance the infrastructure on campus but also significantly enrich the academic experience of students.

" The construction of this state-of-the-art lecture theatre stands as a beacon of your family's dedication to fostering educational excellence. Today, as we lay the foundation for this new facility, we also honour the memory of the late Engr. Joseph Oyeyani Makoju, whose posthumous birthday coincides with this very day. 

"His legacy of service and philanthropy will forever be etched in the annals of our university’s history. In recognition of his invaluable contributions, the Federal University Lokoja will immortalize Engr. Joseph Oyeyani Makoju by naming this lecture theatre in his honour.

" This gesture will ensure that his spirit of generosity and commitment to education continues to inspire future generations. The benefits of this new lecture theatre to our university community are manifold. It will provide a modern, conducive environment for learning, enabling us to host larger classes, seminars, and special events. 

"This facility will also serve as a hub for intellectual exchange, fostering a vibrant academic culture and promoting collaborative research and innovation. We are committed to ensuring that this facility will be used to its fullest potential, maximizing its impact on the educational journey of our students and the scholarly work of our Institution. 

"It is our hope and firm belief that, by the grace of God, the next memorial lecture in honour of Engr. Joseph Oyeyani Makoju will take place in this very hall. This will be a fitting tribute to his memory and a celebration of his enduring impact on our university. 

"Once again I want to express our deepest gratitude to the Makoju family for their exceptional generosity. Your support will leave an indelible mark on our institution, shaping the future of countless students and scholars" he stated.

Our Kogi State Correspondent, reports that in his remarks, the Head of Joseph Oyeyani Makoju, (JOM) foundation Enesi Makoju extol his late father's passion for educational development in Nigeria.

Explaining the rationale behind the project, the young Makoju asserted that "There are few rationale behind this project. One of them being immortalization of my late father memory. Just as important that is, we are using his legacies, the resources that he left behind to invest in the thing that he has passion for which is education. 

"It was education that transformed his own life and give him the opportunity to do the great thing he was able to do. We are immortalizing him, we are contributing to the educational sector and thirdly, contributing to our own community, which is Kogi Central. My father is an Ebira Man. By building this facility within the Central Senatorial District, it is also a contribution to humanity"

He urged well to do individuals to do more on social impact investment which will be highly appreciated in the Society.

According to him "It is always good to invest in the society. No doubt, commercial investment have their benefits because they create employment and gives people to build sustainable income for their families. 

"But then, we need to also have what we call social impact investment. This Social impact investment is important for the people. When you are not benefitting anything back in returns and you are making a difference for the future. If God has blessed you with resources, you should give back to the society. I will encourage people to also look at social impact investment".

The Matriarch of the Makoju’s family, Dr (Mrs) Gladys Makoju in her remarks thanked the Vice Chancellor Federal University Lokoja for giving the family to impact on the University community.

Dr (Mrs) Makoju lauded the humility of her late husband who she described as a Man who has contributed immensely to the development of Nigeria as a nation.

She revealed that the foundation has sealed an agreement with a new generation bank to reward Students who are outstanding in their academic career in Federal University Lokoja.

Late Joseph Oyeyani Makoju 13th July 1948 – 11 April 2022 served as Special Adviser (Electric Power) to former President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria under two separate administrations. 

Late Joseph Oyeyami Makoju would have marked his 76th birthday on 13th July 2024.

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