By Wole Balogun SA Media to VC
Journalists, VC and Deans as well as principal officers after the press conference
The progressively minded Vice-Chancellor, Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) , Prof Abayomi Sunday Fasina, has advised the Federal Government and state government to deploy massive green revolution to end the current palpable kidnappings and killings in the country.
Prof. Fasina said that turning the bushes currently serving as hideout for kidnappers and other evil doers, into hectares of farm plantations would not only end the menace but also provide massive job opportunities and create wealth for the nation.
He cited an example of his management team’s green revolution initiative in the University which has led to the cultivation of many hectares of land for agricultural purposes, adding that the effort has not only shored up the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the University but also provided casual jobs for some of its teeming students.
VC participated in the exhibition exercise by the department of Human Kinetics of Education faculty
Prof. Fasina made the remarks on Monday during the press conference to herald the 8th Convocation ceremony of the University. He disclosed that the University is graduating 6, 563 out of which 114 are in the first class category, 2,762 had second class upper (2.1), 2,793 had Second class Lower (2.2) and 688 had Third Class. The VC also revealed that 36 would be awarded doctorate degrees of the University just as 163 master’s degree holders would emerge from the convocation ceremony which holds on Saturday, 10, 2024.
Taking the gentlemen of the press through many of his commendable achievements in the last three years of his administration, Prof. Fasina listed the computerization of the University bursary for effective, efficient and corruption free financial transactions, prioritizing students and staff welfare leading to purchase of buses, gifts of end-of-year bags of rice and chickens, starting a Professor of practice tradition to enable rich professionals impart practical knowledge on the students, and establishing a career advancement centre for graduating students to gain job opportunities among others as part of his achievements.
Other achievements he listed included the provision of enabling environment for teaching and learning leading to several students and staff wining awards of excellence in researches and other academic pursuits. He cited in particular FUOYE’s student of accounting who emerged overall best in ICAN in 2023 beating other universities in Nigeria.
The VC also mentioned other achievements to include the building of over 30 classrooms from IGR generated from several initiatives such as the Part Time programmes now in nine surrounding towns of Ekiti State, sandwich programme and the FUOYE business and staff schools among others.
Speaking further on achievements, Prof Fasina disclosed that: “Our University is now in affiliation with not less than 15 international institutions. Five of our scholars have been listed as best world renowned scholars in their fields.
“We have secured a new bus to ease the burden of high transport fare for staff and another new bus is coming. We now have a Professor of practice tradition in place. We are bringing professionals and practitioners in specific fields into the academic environment so they can use their experience to assist our students. We have started branding our University and l tell you we have really progressed. From five faculties earlier, we now have 14 faculties.
VC inspects exhibited products of the faculty of science while journalists join him
“Our administration has created 30 functional and impactful directorates in managing the University effectively and today, we have 74 departments . Our students’ population has grown rapidly to over 40,000 regular students alone as we have been ranked the fourth most subscribed university in Nigeria by jamb. FUOYE is the best out of nine varsities set up by former President Goodluck Jonathan.
“ Our professor of practice initiative has led to the appointment of two giant law practitioners in Nigeria, Chief Wole Olanipekun and Mr. Olaolu Yusuf Alli who are currently teaching our law students free of charge.
“In one year, we have had 10 inaugural lectures and as far as promotion is concerned, hundreds of the staff members have been promoted, most among which are to professorial cadre.
“I have been using my contacts and relationships to bring great things to the university. One of my most cherished achievements is establishing a College of medicine in FUOYE and we have admitted the first set of students in Medicine and for the 2023/2024 academic session.
“It is not good to be static as a scholar, as a university, and as a nation. You must constantly think outside of the box to find solutions,” he advised.
The Vice-Chancellor also unveiled his plan for the next two years of his tenure. He said his administration is planning on building a befitting senate building, renewable independent power station which would also serve surrounding communities, befitting blocks of lecturers’ offices for professors, targeting about 50 hectares of land for the green revolution already started, starting a post-doctorate system to exchange international collaboration on academic activities and instituting a One-Day Vice-Chancellor award to outstanding students of the University to encourage academic excellence.
Speaking on the convocation highlights, he said FUOYE is conferring honoris causa in public Law on Senator Micheal Opeyemi Bamidele (MOB), the senate Majority Leader, same honourary doctorate degree in Accounting on the Senate Chairmen on Appropriation, Senator Adeola Solomon Yayi and another honoris causa in Public Administration on the House Chairman on Navy, Rt. Hon. Adamu Gagdi. He added that several distinguished Nigerians would be given meritorious awards.
An exhibition by faculties of the University which paraded rich intellectual, vocational and professional products by the students and academic staff also added colour to the event.