A civil society organisation, under the auspices of the Partnership for Ethical Governance, has commended the ongoing reforms at the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), describing the institution as undergoing a deliberate process of renewal under its current administration.

The organisation said its assessment followed an independent review of the university’s governance, academic environment, infrastructure and stakeholder engagement, adding that the exercise revealed significant improvements compared to previous years when the institution was frequently in the news over administrative controversies.

Speaking during a press conference in Ado-Ekiti on Friday, a leader of the organisation, Comrade Wole Oladapo, said the group’s responsibility was not only to criticise public institutions when they fell short of expectations but also to acknowledge measurable progress wherever it existed.

He stressed that constructive criticism would lose its moral authority if it failed to recognise positive changes in public institutions.

Oladapo explained that the organisation embarked on the assessment after receiving reports suggesting that the university was experiencing a positive transformation under its present leadership.

According to him, the assessment involved interactions with principal officers, management, academic and non-academic staff, students and other stakeholders, as well as physical inspections of completed and ongoing projects across the university’s campuses.

“Our observations present a significantly different narrative from what previously characterised public discourse about the university. We are convinced that the institution is undergoing a deliberate, systematic and measurable process of institutional renewal,” he said.

According to Oladapo, anecdotal accounts from members of the university community suggested that students were increasingly taking their academic responsibilities more seriously under the new regime.

The civil society group noted that virtually all stakeholders it engaged attested to improved administrative discipline, greater transparency, stronger leadership and renewed confidence in the future of the university.

It particularly praised the university management for concentrating on institutional reforms rather than assigning blame for past challenges, saying the administration had chosen to strengthen governance systems capable of sustaining long-term excellence.

The group further applauded plans to dedicate part of the university’s internally generated revenue to research, establish an independent energy plant and expand access to international research databases through digital transformation.

The organisation also welcomed the university’s zero-tolerance policy on extortion and other unethical practices, noting that the administration’s decision to prohibit illegal payments by lecturers, backed by Senate approval and sanctions, demonstrated a strong commitment to integrity and accountability.

it also acknowledged the scale of the institution’s growth, noting that the university had expanded from fewer than 300 students and four faculties at inception to more than 60,000 regular students, alongside thousands of part-time and top-up students and over 3,000 staff members.

While recognising that the university still faced challenges relating to funding, infrastructure, security, library development, communication and specialised facilities, the organisation maintained that these should not overshadow the progress already recorded.

It therefore called on the Federal Government to provide sustained support for the ongoing reforms through increased investment in infrastructure, research, digital technology, energy development and other critical academic facilities.

The organisation pledged to continue supporting initiatives that promote accountability, transparency, innovation and institutional excellence at FUOYE.