The Chief Executive Officer of First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Mr. Olusegun Alebiosu, and the Pro-Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN) have commended the outgoing Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Abayomi Fasina, for documenting his five-year stewardship in a new book titled, Holding the Rudder: My Years Steering FUOYE.   
  
The event, held at the university’s premises in Oye-Ekiti, brought together notable personalities, including academics, politicians, and alumni, who gathered to celebrate and reflect on Fasina’s leadership.
  
Alebiosu described the university’s infrastructure expansion, enrollment growth, and programme development as indicators of institutional progress.
  
He noted that the scale of change surpassed what he encountered during an earlier visit to the university years ago.
  
Ndoma-Egba also congratulated Fasina for finding time to write, describing the book as a practical guide for current and aspiring university leaders.
  
He said the incoming vice-chancellor, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, would benefit from the book.
  
Prof. Abdul-Hameed Sulaimon, who represented the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, described Fasina as a longstanding friend of UNILAG, and congratulated him for documenting his leadership experience for future university administrators.
  
The President of the FUOYE Alumni Association, Taye Ojo, described the author as “the architect of new FUOYE,” citing the scale of institutional transformation recorded during his tenure.
  
In his review of the book, a professor of English Language at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Prof. Yisa Yusuf, said the over 300-page book is an account of how Fasina navigated the treacherous waters of university administration from 2021 to 2026.
  
Quoting from the book, Yusuf recalled the author’s reflection: “When I assumed duty as the fourth substantive vice-chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), I did not walk into a position, I walked into a storm.”
  
Fasina said the book was not written as a defence of office, but as a reflection on leadership under pressure.
  
He acknowledged what he described as “spiritual destiny helpers who supported him in prayers and counsel throughout his tenure.
  
According to Fasina, between 2021 and 2026, his administration expanded FUOYE’s academic footprint, executed over 160 infrastructure projects, grew the university’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) by 310 per cent, and recorded gains in national demand and international visibility.
  
He said the administration pursued revenue growth through the expansion of university-owned ventures and professional services rather than fee increases.
   
These included bakery operations, table water production, printing services, agricultural farms, consultancy activities, the FUOYE Business School, and the establishment of the FUOYE Microfinance Bank.
  
Infrastructure development included a new Senate Building, the 1,000-seat Ndoma-Egba Auditorium, a modern Computer-Based Test (CBT) centre, science and professional faculty buildings, and student hostels delivered through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements.
  
Among the projects delivered during the period was a 2,000-capacity student hostel situated on a 33-hectare site, named after the vice-chancellor and inaugurated by the Pro-Chancellor after the book launch.
  
He said the administration also introduced governance measures aimed at campus stability, including a 60/40 flexible school fees payment structure, a student insurance scheme, subsidised transport, electronic student union elections, and the construction of a Student Union Complex.
  
“Academically, FUOYE expanded from eight to 18 faculties, increased its programmes from 73 to 91, and grew its directorates from one to 19, alongside the creation of five institutes.”