Federal University Oye Ekiti ( FUOYE), a member of the famous Class 9 of the 2011 set universities established by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, could proudly beat its chest and give sacrifice of praise to the Almighty God for continuously being lucky to be endowed with extra-ordinarily great, committed and intelligent Vice Chancellors, without sounding immodest, more than its contemporaries or Class 9 set.
From the foundation Vice Chancellor to the current one, Prof Sunday Abayomi Fasina, the university is literally littered with evidential structures, facilities and other indices of growth and development both visible and invisible that today stands it out as no longer “primus inter pare’’ and not just favourably competing with the older ones, but has indisputably beaten some, even first generation universities in many developmental and growth indices.
It will also not be an overstatement to conclude without fear of contradictions that FUOYE has moved from being lucky as earlier inferred to being in its luckiest moment so far having Fasina at the helm of its leadership, especially from the point of view of comparative leadership analysis based on visible and invisible evidential achievements and successes in all areas of growth and development, including local and international ratings.
One of such ratings that gives credence to the above fact of history is the latest JAMB ranking where its well known incorruptible and well respected Registrar, Prof Ishaq Oloyede in the presence of the Education Minister announced FUOYE as the 4th most subscribed to by applicants seeking admission into the country’s 274 universities (public and private).
A dispassionate analysis of this ranking using criteria of the Class 9 of the 2011 Set and the innumerable members of the “old school lape” long and firmly established before it, this feat definitely and naturally qualifies to share the same seat with the 1989 Damman, (Saudi Arabia) Miracle where the Nigerian junior football team came from far behind in less than 50 minutes to cancel four goals deficit to beat the then Super Power Soviet Union.
Isn’t that exactly what Fasina in FUOYE has done to “Super Power” institutions such as University of Nigeria Nsukka, University of Benin University of Ibadan and the rest of them. With this feat, Fasina has done what Yoruba Mythology called “Akehinde wa gbegbon”
Fasina Revolution In FUOYE if you call it magic (wand) you are not far from the truth. If you call it midas touch you are saying the same thing or if you call it a revolution, you are confirming the fact emanating from JAMB Registrar which many have dubbed Miracle of Denman.
As Fasina today celebrates his birthday and the birthday gift of Dammam Miracle, you may not like his face, he may not be in your good book, you may not agree with him on many issues after, all as a human being he is not infallible, but you cannot deny him the title of the foremost achiever in the history of the barely 14 years old university whose current students’ population stands at over 44,000, is adequately complimented with standard, modern and functional infrastructural facilities and human capacity that are regularly updated. For once put all the difference aside and toast to his achievements climaxed by this national and international laurel.
Yes without mincing word, it is qualified to be referred to as miracle. However when subjected to critical empirical analysis it will come out as the result of a visionary, cerebral and experienced leader who is passionate about excellence and delivery without excuses, even when the situation appears hopeless and all roads seemed closed!
Two very recent uncommon feats stand out Fasina as a highly foresighted and uncommon university administrator in our contemporary history.
The first one was the over N441 million worth equipment he attracted from Germany and the United States to boost science and engineering studies in the university which further elevated the state of excellence of the institutions.
The success of sourcing these equipment has further exposed another dimension to studying this special specie born in Abeokuta Ogun State, which are his managerial dexterity and administrative ingenuity in identifying and assembling talents to achieve his goal and objectives for the university.
To achieve the above the erudite scholar wasted no time in identifying three eminent lieutenants and scholars with immensely rich international scholarly connections and linkages.
The scholar-ambassadors were Prof Joshua Ogunwole, Deputy Vice Chancellor Strategic Partnership, Research, Innovation and Linkage, Prof Olufunke Adetayo former Director Academic Planning and Prof Oluuide Lawal, Director Research and Development.
The second and most recent visionary achievement by the Vice Chancellor was the successful nationalisation of the university by naming all the monuments in the institution after prominent patriots across all the 36 states of the federation and Abuja who have contributed in different ways to the Nigerian project. Among them were President Bola Tinubu, former President Olusegun Obasano, ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, late Prof Dora Akunyili, late Dr Ameyo Stella Adadevoh, heroine of the Corona Virus fame, Mohammed Yahuza, late Sam Okwaraji, Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka.
One very significant thing about the immortalisation project is that more than half of these monuments were built by the current Vice Chancellor in just four years of his five-year tenure!
When the Soil Science expert assumed office in 2021, it didn’t take him one week to identify areas of need and infrastructural deficits of the university because of the advantage of being an insider elected from within the institution
He did not waste time in leveraging on this as shown by the massive infrastructure he has delivered, his record in this area is more than intimidating.
This was a testimony to his inaugural statement upon assuming office when he declared that “Infrastructure is the engine-room of development, driver of growth and catalyst for excellence and the greater heights I have pledged to take this citadel of learning to as I thrusted upon myself the arduous task to take the driver’s seat as your servant-leader. Our hands are on the plough, there is no looking back or excuses not to deliver no matter how rough the road is. Together we shall confront this Herculean challenge of infrastructural deficit”.
This tribute will be incomplete without a brief but imperative peep into how in four years he has beyond imagination grown the academic sector of the university.
It is very remarkable to note that FUOYE under the watch of Fasina, the faculties grew to 14, the departments jumped from about 52 to 76 just as the students’ population astromically doubled, moving from about 22,000 to 44,401, This followed the opening of two more campuses for part-time students in Omuo and Ayedun, all in the state and a Business School in Ado Ekiti.
In view of the incredible giant strides FUOYE has made in just 14 years and particularly under Prof Fasina, in conclusion, I found it compelling and imperative to offer an unsolicited recommendation to the National University Commission to enact a regulation that will make it compulsory for Vice Chancellors to engage in exchange visitation for the purpose of promoting constructive peer group review which will surely go a very long way in stimulating healthy rivalries as well as accelerating growth and development in our universities.
Fanoro is a Senior Information Officer at the Federal University Oye Ekiti.
