By Wole Balogun (Ph.D)
It was Nelson Mandela, the legendary freedom fighter of South Africa, who said: “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” John Ruskin, also wisely reasons thus: “The highest reward for a person’s toil is not what they get for it, but what they become by it.”
These twin wise sayings resonate aptly with the dignifying features of the recently concluded week-long 9th Convocation ceremony of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE). The event featured glamorous exhibition of grace, elegance and excellence as well as reward for hard work, exemplary and quintessential leadership ably put forward by the erudite and astute Scholar, Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina, the Vice-Chancellor of the University.
Day one of the ceremony, which was the VC’s warm reception of amiable journalists representing virtually all local and national media organisations in the state, was a resounding success as Prof. Fasina took the Reporters on an exciting journey of four years in the saddle which has, besides other admirable achievements, provided the University with over 156 infrastructural facilities now ensuring conducive teaching and learning environment for the teeming population of the University community.
When the keen Reporters urged the VC to disclose the hurdles he had faced in those four rewarding and eventful years, he simply gave all the glory to God for enabling him to surmount the challenges of managing both human and material resources, citing the former as more challenging given their unpredictable mannerisms. He added that he was able to rise above the usual challenge of funds by massively encouraging robust generation of the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) through several creative ventures that equally provided robust community services to the host communities. Such ventures included the now sprawling institute of part time studies, FUOYE ventures, FUOYE Business School, Sandwich programmes, and FUOYE staff school among others.
Day two, February 18, was dedicated to a generous free healthcare services sponsored by the University management, and meticulously implemented by a hardworking team led by Dr. Olawale Musibau, Chief Medical Officer (CMD) of the University Medical services centre. The community service from which hundreds of residents of the host communities benefitted, commenced early in the morning at the palace of his Royal Highness, Oba Emmanuel Ademolaju, the Oloye of Oye-Ekiti. This humanitarian gesture was extended to lkole-Ekiti residents on the third day of the Convocation ceremony while a commissioning of about 22 legacy projects, completed in the past one year which kicked off from day one, continued in both communities . Such projects included, 1000 – Seater Auditorium, Prof. Abayomi S. Fasina Conference Centre, 3-in-1 Faculty of Science Laboratory, New CBT Centre at Phase III, Professorial Office complex
vi School of Postgraduate Studies Complex, Faculty of Education Building, Faculty of Law Complex, Sport Complex Pavilion, Innovation Hub, Ultra-Modern Laboratory, Two new 200 Capacity Modern Lecture Hall, Sports complex
Professorial Building – Faculty of Agriculture, A-250 Seater Lecture Theatre, 3-in-1 1000 capacity Faculty of Agriculture Laboratory and Primary School Building donated by
MHR Akintunde Rotimi in lkole-Ekiti among others.
On Thursday, February 20, 2025, an amazing event that thrilled both the staff and students of the University, as well as friendly visitors, tagged: ” Edutainment, Edutechment, and meritorious awards”, held with pomp and pageantry
at the newly constructed 1000- seater auditorium on phase two of the Oye-Ekiti main campus of the University,
Well-deserving awards were showered on reputable Nigerians, including the philanthropic aristocrats, the powerful and impactful men and women of the Bar, outstanding working class and more significantly, the A-list Nigerian Nollywood stars who were specially invited to give morale support and excitement to the teeming students in attendance. The air was filled with great excitement and glamour as thrilled students of the University applauded the awardees in high spirit as they received their colourful garlands.
Opening the event with an inspiring brief speech, the VC, said : “We are doing this to celebrate our staff who have done excellently well during the last one year. I have this saying that, if you motivate the staff, they will innovate and perform excellently even beyond your imagination.This is to encourage others to do well and I am very sure that as we do this, many of our staff would also work hard so as to get this award. “
The names of outstanding staff members in several categories were then reeled out by the Master of the Ceremony (MC), Associate Professor Dayo Sobowale. The best Dean of the Year, 2024, was clinched by Prof. Olubanke M. Bankole, the beautiful and unassuming Dean of the faculty of
Education, best Director of the Year, was announced as Dr. Adeola Adepoju Adeola, the Director of FUOYE Business School. In the category of the most innovative Lecturers of the Year for each faculty , were Dr. Afabor Nwaifo of the College of Medicine, Mr. Aina Olugbenga Oluwole of the Basic Medical Sciences faculty, Mr. Oluranti Temitope Adewunmi aka humble also emerged the Most outstanding Faculty Officer of the Year while the Most innovative Technologist is Engr. Mrs. Mercy Oluwatosin Olaosebikan in the same vein, the Most outstanding Bursary staff of the Year Is
Mr. Akinyemi Seun Ojo’ (male) a Chief accountant while Mrs. Folayemi Omotola Owoeye, clinched same award in the female category.
The Most outstanding Registry staff of the year is Mrs. Oluwadare Modupe Oyelere, Most Outstanding Confidential Secretary of the Year is also clinched by
Mrs. Abike Fatima Fadairo just as the Most outstanding Procurement unit staff of the year went to Mrs. Oyedokun Toyin, same category of award in SERVICOM unit went to Mrs. Babagbemi Dada Opeyemi while Mr. Ibrahim Sola is Most outstanding staff in Library unit. For the Directorate of Corporate services orf the University, Mr..Adeleke Olusesan Adeniyi
gallantly emerged just as the
Most innovative Lecturer of the faculty of Science is Dr. Mrs. Ronke. Her counterpart in the faculty of Management Sciences was announced as Dr. Babajide Owoniya . Handsome and charismatic Dr. Uzordinma Chukwuemeka of the Department of Theatre and Media Arts, emerged the Most Innovative Lecturer of the faculty of Arts. Dr. Innocent Ezegomi is his counterpart for the faculty of Agriculture, while for the faculty of Communication and Media Arts, Dr. Success Emmanuel emerged. For the faculty of Social sciences, Mr. Asabagun
Haruna Egbu clinched the most innovative lecturer of the year, 2004. In Engineering and Law faculties , Dr. Engr. Abdullahi Adebayo and Dr. Mrs. Opeyemi Omojuyi were announced respectively as the Most innovative Lecturers of the year. In Environmental Design and Management , Dr. Solomon Ayodeji Olatunji cinched the trophy and Mrs. Adepemo Awolesi got that of the faculty of Pharmacy.
The Most outstanding staff of the Year, 2024 for the Council affairs unit of the University went to Akinyemi Egunjobi, a senior assistant Registrar of the University, and in Audit unit,
Mrs. Olaiya Mercy Adenike emerged. The most outstanding Security officer of the year is Mr. Ajayi kehinde Sunday, just as the Most Outstanding Junior staff of the Year went to Mrs. Morufat Olaseni Adenekan. Chief Planner, Akinleye Akomolafe is Most outstanding staff, Academic planning, as Dr. Ejiro O., emerged most outstanding staff of the University Medical services and Dr. Ayo Ajayi was announced as most outstanding staff of the faculty of Multi- disciplinary studies. Honoured members of staff gladly received their garlands and gifts from the VC in grand style.
The next stage of awards was for the powerful gentlemen and women of the Bench. Distinguished men and women of the Nigeria Bar, whose invaluable contribution to building lasting legal legacies in sustaining justice and equity in the country, were given due and respectful recognition awards. They included Prof. Sebastine T. Hon, SAN, a renowned constitutional lawyer , Prof. Oladoyin Awoyale, Principal officer of Doyin Awoyale San & Co Law firm and Professor of Practice in Law of the University, Prof. Roland Otaru, SAN
, Barr. Lawrence Fubara Anga, a Chartered Arbitrator , Chartered Tax Practitioners, and political Economist, Hon. Justice Lekan Ogunmola, Acting Chief Judge, Ekiti State , Hon. Justice Abiodun Adedara, Chief Judge of Kwara State, and Barr. Yemi Ayodele Ayeni and of course, Hon. Justice (Prof) Alero Akeredolu, judge of the Ondo State High Court , who is first female Professor of Law to be appointed judge of high court in Nigeria.
The amazing occasion reached its exciting crescendo with the awards of recognition handed out to A-list stars of the Nigerian film industry, who included Peju Ogunmola, Toyin Adegbola, aka Asewo to re Mecca, Muyideen Oladapo, aka Lala, the Fuji maestro Saheed Osupa, Femi Adebayo of the “Seven Doors” Nigerian movie fame, and of course, a culture lcon and Nigeria’s first Professor of Dance and Performance Aesthetics, who is incumbent Honourable Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy , Prof. Rasaki Ojo Bakare. The Edutainment awards also went to other A-list actors of Nollywood who included Chief Dele Odule, Former Deputy President, Associates of Nigeria Theatres Arts Practitioners and pioneer president, Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners of Nigeria (TAMPAN,), Pa Peter Fatomilola, renowned actor, Peju Ogunmola, Tope Alabi, and Owolabi Olalekan Christopher, aka Goroso Ekiti
Perhaps the highpoint of the glorious event was the quintessential leadership awards showered on the duo of the Pro-Chancellor of the University, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba and Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Fasina. Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC) Administration, Prof. Bolanle Tajudeen Opoola, was also garlanded in recognition for his dedication, commitment, sacrificial and exemplary leadership given to FUOYE in the last couple of years. This was given first by the University Advancement Centre, headed by Prof. Olubukola Oyawoye, while the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) South West zone, led by Comrade, and sister organizations such as the Nigerian Man O’ War, and also garlanded the Vice-Chancellor and DVC, Admin with recognition awards of excellence. Arch Sir Dipo Ajayi and also
Hon. Adedayo Gold, who is Hon. Commissioner for Youths Development, Ekiti State also received the leadership awards.
Responding to the recognition award handed him by the student body for his exemplary and highly impactful leadership style in four years, an excited Prof. Fasina said : “I promise to continue to work for the progress and development of this University and even when I leave office l will continue to contribute towards the development of this University.We appreciate the artistes who have come to give our student moral support ” .
The Edutechment awards proudly went to personalities who have distinguished themselves in the wood of technology entrepreneurship. They included Mr. Tomiwa Aladekomo, CEO, Big Cabal, Lagos State based digital media firm ,
Ademola Aladekomo, CEO, Chams Holding Co. PLC, Hon. Oluwaseun Fakuade, Mr. Akole Banji and Mr. Kayode Samuel Ayodele..
Aristocrats who have deployed their resources selflessly for humanity and also assisted immensely in facilitating growth and development of FUOYE were not left out as they received Meritorious awards from the University. These eminent personalities, most of who had also partnered with the University in ensuring that amazing infrastructural facilities are brought into the system, included Otunba Sola Adewunmi, a reputable Chartered Accountant, banker and Entrepreneur, Hon. Akintunde Rotimi, Member, Federal House of Representative, representing Ekiti North (lkole/Oye), Engr. Adegboyega Isiaka Oyetola, Minister of Trade and Investment and former Governor, Osun State, Engr. Oluremi Omowaiye, Executive Director, Project Implementation, Federal Housing Authority, Nigeria , High Chief Oladele oluwasanmi Awobusuyi, Hon. David Idris Zacharias , Prof. Stephen lkani Ocheni
High Chief Ogunleye Tunde Emmanuel, Town Planner Oriyomi Hammid Olaniyan, Chief Segun Ajibulu, Dr. Chukwuemeka B Eze, Director of Just and Inclusive Democratic FUtures in Africa at the Open Society Foundations (OSF), former Executive Director and Programme Director, West Africa Network for Peace Building.
The awards of garlands turned out to be a symbiotic exercise as the awardees also gave back to the University in form of various endowments to boost the infrastructural facilities of the University and to promote academic excellence by the students.
Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezekiel, a philanthropist, who received a meritorious award with others, in recognition of his excellent performance in peace and conflict resolution, said: ” If there is anywhere you can find Excellence it is in the University. The Vice-Chancellor Sir, Since you are not a politician , I reckoned that all the accolades you have received today you haven’t bought them. I only do pro-bono teaching
“The award is very dear to me is that I did not expect it. The second reason is that that is very humbling is that I didn’t pay for it.This ambience provides and opportunity to provide Afrocentric and institute of Democracy studies. Also to marry the town and the gown, we are offering opportunities for your lecturers for sabbatical in our organization
There will also be opportunities for two students from. You to do Internship every year
Prof. Bakare who promised to renewed us endowment for every student who secures 4 points by first semester of 300L in Arts faculty, also promised to give professional and technical support to the University band which provided.misical interludes to spice the occasion.
The Fourth day of the Ceremony was concluded on a very entertaining note with her command performance of the Convocation play, titled: Erelu” as directed by the Acting Head of Department of Theatre and Media Arts of the University. Talented students or the Department thrilled the audience including the Vice-Chancellor and other principal officers of the University with their amazing acting skills. Erelu was written by Prof. Lara Owoeye of the English and Literary Studies department of the Ekiti State University. It is tells a moving story of the triumph of a woman leader, Erelu , who displays uncommon courage in protecting young ladies from oppressive treatment in the hands of patriarchal palace chiefs.
The VC was impressed with the performance and he promised a continued support for the department. He said: ” We are making plans to bring A list actors as Professors of Practice to use their experience to teach our students. I do not celebrate efforts l celebrate results. I really enjoyed your performance .
Our plan is to train you to be the best
By the special grace of God, I have very outstanding things to be grateful to God for making me to achieve.
This department and the faculty has done well. Your Dean is a good friend and your HOD is super . And l am proud of you students and will give you something.”.
