The Federal University Lokoja (FUL) has inaugurated the International Centre for Climate Change, Floods and Environmental Sustainability (I3CFES), a specialised hub dedicated to research, innovation, and collaboration in tackling climate change and flood-related challenges.
The centre was launched on Thursday at the Engr. Joseph and Enesi Makoju Memorial Lecture Theatre, with scholars, policymakers, and stakeholders in attendance.
Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olayemi Akinwumi, described the centre as “timely and necessary,” given Lokoja’s vulnerability as a flood-prone city at the confluence of Rivers Niger and Benue. He said the centre would provide evidence-based research, policy direction, and community-focused interventions while serving as a beacon of innovation, resilience, and hope.
According to the university, I3CFES will focus on research and innovation, policy advocacy, consultancy, and capacity building. It will also drive green enterprise incubation, knowledge sharing, and international partnerships.
Prof. Akinwumi commended the inaugural Director, Emeritus Prof. Jimmy O. Adegoke, a globally recognised climate scholar, for accepting to lead the centre pro bono. He noted that Prof. Adegoke’s expertise would be central to the centre’s success.
In his remarks, Prof. Adegoke recalled conceiving the idea for the centre in a conversation with the Vice-Chancellor four years ago. He pledged his commitment to the centre’s mission, noting that climate change is a cross-cutting issue affecting every aspect of life. “This centre will be a beacon of hope in Africa and beyond,” he said, adding that he plans to institute an annual joint lecture in honour of the Vice-Chancellor before the end of his tenure in February 2026.
He also praised the Kogi State Government for its pioneering climate initiatives, including the establishment of the first-ever Kogi State Climate Change Agency under Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo.
Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Prof. Olarewaju Ifatimehin, stressed that the centre was born out of necessity rather than coincidence, given the environmental realities of Lokoja.
The inauguration marks what stakeholders described as a “giant stride” in positioning FUL as a leading academic institution in Africa’s climate action landscape.
