The Governing Council of the Federal University Oye Ekiti (FUOYE) has declared that the infrastructural facilities at the institution campuses are completely and grossly inadequate for the university, calling for urgent Federal Government intervention.

The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council, Engineer Kayode Ojo, said that with the status of the university as one of the most subscribed by prospective students and judging by the current student population, the facilities at FUOYE are currently below 50 percent of the required infrastructure.

The Pro-Chancellor who was accompanied by other members of the Council, stated this at the university campus during the tour of the facilities in various campuses of the institution and meeting with the major stakeholders as well as the university management.

He assured the host communities of the council’s determination for aggressive pursuit of innovations, infrastructural development and renewed academic standards which would put the university ahead of others not only in Nigeria but Africa.

“This institution is very important. With the student population and the fact that this university is one of the most subscribed by prospective JAMB candidates. The facilities here presently are below fifty percent of the required infrastructures for this university. We need government intervention immediately.

“These facilities are needed so that the students can be well prepared for the future. As you are aware, this institution has multiple campuses. This is like two to three universities. So we are going to make a case that the university be treated as such.”

Speaking on the proposed strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Ojo urged the lecturers to calm down. “Everybody knows that there are challenges in the country and that the problems have accumulated over the years and it has nothing or little to do with the current government.

“This government is like filling a hole that they met. You have to fill the hole before you start working. So we appeal to ASUU and other unions agitating to give the Federal Government some time to fix things. I am sure at the end of the day we are all going to be proud of this administration.”

In his remarks during the visit of the Governing Board, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Abayomi Fasina said that the university has 16 hectares of palm tree and pineapple which is one way to support the federal government’s food security.

“We have touched all aspects of the university positively starting from Academic to farms. We now have 16 hectares of palm tree and pineapple which is one way to support the federal government’s food security. We also use it as training for our students.

“We have also built several classrooms, more than 40 classrooms. We have changed the face of the university that is why I am not surprised that the university is ranked 4th most subscribed in Nigeria. The courses are available, the qualities of our lecturers are good and we have a stable calendar.

“Looking at all parameters, you know that FUOYE is growing and will continue to grow. You will recall that eight of our students passed ICAN at 300 level and six of them got scholarships from degree to PhD level. If they are not good, they won’t be achieving these feats.”