Federal University Lokoja has started a scheme where students take on the role of vice-chancellor for a day, a move the university says will help young people understand university leadership and boost their academic drive.
Professor Gbenga Ibileye, the university's new vice-chancellor, introduced the "one-day VC" programme as part of efforts to connect students with the mechanics of running a higher institution. The scheme lets selected undergraduates shadow and briefly assume some duties of the VC's office, giving them a window into decision-making at the top level.
The university believes the programme will show students how much work goes into leading an institution and push them to aim higher in their own academic and professional pursuits. It is one of several initiatives Ibileye has rolled out since taking over as VC. The idea sits within a broader push by the institution to make campus life more engaging and to give undergraduates real exposure to university governance.
Students who participate will get to sit in on meetings, review administrative documents, and understand the pressures and responsibilities that come with running a federal university. The university has not yet announced the selection criteria or how many students will participate in each cycle, but officials say the scheme is open to undergraduates across all faculties. The programme is expected to run throughout the academic year, with new students taking their turn each month or semester depending on how the university structures the rotations.
