The Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), has moved a step higher in the rating of Nigerian universities, emerging 11th best in the country, according to an assessment by the Times Higher Education (THE) world university ratings.

The current rating, which is benchmark against the 2026, witnesses FUOYE doing better than the 2025 assessment, where the university came 12th in national rankings.

Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Abayomi Fasina, described the development as “an advancement in strategic planning and quality research and innovation-driven initiatives that the university maintains.”

He, however, commended members of staff and faculty members of the institution for the achievement.

The development follows a rejoinder by the university’s management, warning a former member of the institution’s staff, Saka Odunjo, from fuelling a crisis in the university.

It would be recalled that Odunjo had, last week, signed a petition to the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, making sweeping allegations against the management and governing council of the university.

But a statement by the Public Relations Officer of FUOYE, Folusho Ogunmodede, on behalf of management, at the weekend, said that Odunjo was unqualified to speak on behalf of the staff members of FUOYE, having been relieved of his job since February of this year.

The statement read in part: “Saka Odunjo, who authored the alleged petition, lacked the required competence to speak on behalf of the teeming members of staff of the university, having been dismissed from FUOYE for serious misconduct in February this year.

“Odunjo is aggrieved that the university found him guilty of serious misconduct and was subsequently dismissed.

“He is a rampaging snake whose head was cut off suddenly, looking for whom to devour.

“Who is Saka Odunjo to speak on behalf of FUOYE members of staff? Saka Odunjo is no longer a member of staff of FUOYE and can’t speak on their behalf.”

Meanwhile, the university’s management has again expressed its confidence in the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of FUOYE Governing Council, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba’s leadership and the substantive Vice Chancellor, Prof. Fasina, who resumes office following the expiration of his six-month research leave.