In the wake of a pressing need to expand access to tertiary education in Nigeria, former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, in 2011, established nine new federal universities. Among them was the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), conceived as a citadel of learning and a catalyst for development in the serene environs of Ekiti State.
From its humble beginnings, FUOYE embarked on a remarkable trajectory of growth. In little over a decade, it has distinguished itself as the most developed among its 2011 peers, a testament to the relentless efforts of its foundational leadership and dedicated staff. Its infrastructure expanded, academic programmes multiplied, and its student population swelled, seemingly fulfilling the promise of its establishment.
However, the period of its most rapid and “tremendous development” between 2021 and the present has paradoxically been its most turbulent. This era of visible progress has been overshadowed by a constant cloud of controversy, turning the university into a recurring headline in the national media but often for the wrong reasons.
A litany of grave allegations has been published across various platforms: accusations of manipulated recruitment processes, rule-bending to favour loyalists, and a vicious power struggle between the university’s governance body and its administration. These reports have painted a picture of an institution at war with itself, where the quest for power threatens to eclipse the pursuit of academic excellence. This led to a thorough investigation and interviews of council members, management, senate members, alumni, and students of the institution.
Speaking with the chairman committee of Deans FUOYE, Prof. Babatunde Afolabi said all allegations of interference with the smooth running of the University, alongside bending the rules to favour loyalists, are mere false allegations. The erudite scholar said, contrary to the report regarding recruitment:
“There’s no recruitment or whatsoever going on in FUOYE; what is going on is the normal annual promotion exercise”
for staff of the institution. Prof. Babatunde said as the chairman committee of Deans, the procedures for appointing the next Vice-Chancellor is within the act of the University, saying there’s no bending of rules, noting that it is clearly stated that the council chose ten years’ experience for any professor contesting for the position of Vice-Chancellor saying the Honorable minister of education gave a directive that the ten years’ experience is sacrosanct, adding that any erring university await sanction. While reacting to the position of council chairman, he said the council chairman stood his ground as a law-abiding citizen following the directives of the Honorable Minister of Education, which he threw open and every member of the governing council supported it individually, where all members accepted to choose ten years of professorial experience for the Vice-Chancellor position.
In a brief interview with the acting Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Olubunmi Samuel Shittu, he declined speaking with the press; however, he confirmed that he has been promoting peace in FUOYE for the proper growth and development of the institution. During the cross-section interview, an effort to speak with the Registrar of the University, Mr Mufutau Ibrahim proved abortive as he declined speaking with the press, saying he doesn’t have the right to grant any interview with the press. Although on the issue of the official press release by the University to refute the claims of the report published on the website of Sahara Reporters, titled: “Nigeria’s Federal University Oye-Ekiti Pro-Chancellor, Suspended VC Accused of Manipulating Recruitment, Bending Rules to Favour Loyalists”, Mr Mufutau Ibrahim confirmed to have signed the press release, saying the press release was from the office of the registrar.
While interacting with a top management staff and member of the Senate, he confirmed that there was a senate meeting on the 5th of August, 2025, and the motions that came up was from Prof. Wasiu Ademola Oyedokun-Alli (Dean of Students’ Affairs) who said a “vote of confidence” should be passed on the Acting Vice Chancellor and senate members supported, and the second motion was that the senate has the right to inform the public about positive updates in the university. Unfortunately, the news going around was contrary to what happened in the Senate meeting. The Acting Vice Chancellor affirmed that:
“All we want is peace in the university, while emphasizing that rancor and acrimony are inimical to the growth of any organization.”
The Professor advised all and sundry to embrace peace and let sleeping dogs lie. On the growth of FUOYE, the scholar said FUOYE is the fastest growing public university in Nigeria, with the quality of teaching and research making examples of students being taught online, accreditation of all their courses, and academic sessions were up to date. Hence, the institution should not be in the news media for negative reasons.
During an interactive discussion with the SUG President, he said there are no crises among the students, however if there is any leadership tussle, it should not affect the affairs of the university:
“We are amazed of the negative news in the media. Instead we should trend for good reasons like scholarship, innovations and winning awards that have been recorded in the University in recent times.”
Everything is going on smoothly, examinations were conducted as at when due and the students are currently on holiday. On compromising the quality of education and value of their degree, the SUG leader said definitely it will affect their certificate, citing examples of going for interview among contemporaries from other institutions:
“This can affect our opportunity especially when employers read news with bad image on the media. They will rather consider graduates from other institutions that are not better than us due to misrepresentation we have had all over the media.”
In an interactive session with alumni of the university, Comrade Opeyemi said the crisis may affect the alumni in the job market, given the negative image portrayed in the media. The alumni member emphasized:
“We should not be affected.”
He added that the alumni representative has taken a bold step to meet with the management on how the management can take a definitive step against the media outlets misrepresenting the image of the institution.
A message posted on the Senate and some other university WhatsApp platforms by Prof. Wasiu Ademola Oyedokun-Alli was obtained:
“Sequel to the senate resolution at its last meeting, I have the honour to invite all senate members: Professors, Deans and Heads of Departments to an interactive meeting on the modalities for actualisation of the second resolution. Time: 9am, Date: Tomorrow, Thursday, 14th August, 2025. Venue: Faculty of Law Auditorium. Please, be punctual!”
This investigation confirmed that the Senate members expressed their displeasure, accusing Prof. Oyedokun-Alli of breaching the University rule by calling for an unauthorized Senate Meeting and press briefing: FUOYE Act (2015) “Meetings of the Senate shall be convened by the Vice-Chancellor or, in their absence, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor.” He later issued a disclaimer on the Senate platform but not on the other platforms where he posted it:
“DISCLAIMER!!! My attention has been drawn to the post that I erroneously sent to the Senate Platform. I deeply appreciate those who called me to the inadvertent error. First, it was never my intention to call a Senate meeting as I do not have such powers. Second, the post was actually meant for ‘Concerned Members of the Senate’. Any inconvenience is deeply regretted. Please, I, therefore, by this release, pull down the said post.”
One of the invited media agents confirmed that a press briefing was organized on behalf of the senate, but it failed because only Prof. Wasiu Ademola Oyedokun-Alli, and Prof. Sola Omotola and some non-teaching staff were met in front of the administrative building on Wednesday, 20th August 2025. The news about the failed press briefing was published on the website of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ).
On the part of a senior Professor, member of senate and Dean of a faculty in the university, he said that Prof. Wasiu Ademola Oyedokun-Alli was circulating a document around that people should sign, that “there is a resolution” and equally Prof. Sola Omotola who is interested that the council should have reduced the number of years for the person that will qualify for the Vice Chancellor’s post and the council did not do that, saying the council just aligned with the ten years directive as recommended by the minister of education. He confirmed that Prof. Sola Omotola is not satisfied with the ten-year directive as stipulated, saying that he has advised Prof. Sola Omotola to avoid the steps he’s taking. Talking about the “concerned senate members,” he said Prof. Oyedokun-Alli and Prof. Omotola have both been the concerned senate members, adding that Prof. Oyedokun-Alli, who is not in the position to call for a senate meeting, actually did call for it, explaining that the order of calling for a senate meeting strictly lies with the Vice-chancellor or acting Vice-chancellor. He said Prof. Oyedokun-Alli and Prof. Omotola tried everything possible to hold a senate meeting and equally called for a press conference, but the plan died on arrival because it was not a popular opinion.
The erudite scholar confirmed that all fingers point to the duo while saying one of the letters they both circulated was being torn to disregard the steps:
“How can a management member antagonize the management. You will first resign from your post before you can take such a step. What are you fighting for? Just because you want to support somebody to be a vice-chancellor, that is why Prof. Oyedokun-Alli wants the year the Federal government set to be altered or reduced for their selfish interest.”
He confirmed that there is complete stability in the university management and affairs. On the issue of news about the “Senate Resolutions” on the Pro-Chancellor, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, he said it is a blatant blackmail of all the senators by a few individuals. He said there was nothing of such in the senate, saying:
“We don’t have that right, senate members can only advise.”
He, however, called for peace in the institution. Some other Senate members interviewed corroborated the claims on the “Senate Resolutions,” stating that there was no resolution to pass a vote of no confidence on the Pro-Chancellor.
Efforts were made to interact with Prof. Wasiu Ademola Oyedokun-Alli, but he declined even after stating clearly that his name was mentioned as a key player in the ongoing tussle reported in the media. In the course of our investigative reports, speaking with Professor Omotola on the allegations of his involvement in organizing a press briefing and calling for a senate meeting on the university’s WhatsApp platforms, Professor Omotola denied all allegations. He said the allegations were not true. However, on the issue of appointment of the new VC, he stated clearly:
“If the council has taken ten years of professorial experience as a criterion, so be it.”
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abayomi Fasina, declined to comment on FUOYE issues because he is currently on leave in the United States, where he is carrying out his research work, but after much pressure, he agreed to grant us a few moments of his time. On the allegation of influencing the recruitment process for loyalists, Prof. Fasina said:
“It is a lie from the pit of hell, there’s no way you can manipulate the appointment of any staff, clarifying that there’s no recruitment going on in the university presently. What is going on is the normal annual promotion exercise for staff of the university.”
He added that it is actually posting to various units, which have procedures, protocols, rules and regulations for doing that. Prof. Fasina said for clarity of purpose:
“I am currently in the United States for more research to acquire more knowledge while on leave, hence, there’s no time for trivialities.”
To add more to that, he said, even as the Vice-Chancellor, he still supervises Postgraduate students in their research. On that aspect of recruitment, Prof. Fasina said, the government has not given them the go-ahead to recruit either internally or by placing an advert. On the pressure regarding the upcoming succession of his position, he said that during his time to be appointed as the Vice-chancellor, seventy-six people applied, and he eventually emerged. However, it was equally a thug of war with several assassination of character attempts and social media name-damaged, but he scaled through. Still, on the pressure of the appointment of a new Vice Chancellor, he said, the core reason behind the crises is that:
“They don’t want me on the seat when it’s time to appoint a new Vice-chancellor.”
Saying whoever God has chosen will emerge.
On his achievement, the erudite scholar said that in four years, he has promoted almost two hundred professors, constructed one hundred and fifty-six projects with documents and facts to show as evidence, increased the number of Faculties from nine to eighteen, established the College of Medicine, and increased internally generated revenue (IGR). He prayed that the best internal candidate would emerge as the Vice-Chancellor who would know the immediate problem of the Institution. In his observation, he argued that the Vice-chancellor appointment should be on merit, as merit is the key to hallmark in appointing a Vice-chancellor, and Federal character must be considered. He commended the Pro-Chancellor for his maturity and credibility.
The Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) stands at a critical juncture, caught between its undeniable record of rapid growth and negative news in the media. All parties involved must prioritize the long-term health of FUOYE over short-term personal or factional interests. The focus must return to the core mission of teaching, learning, and research, ensuring that the university’s headlines are once again defined by scholarly achievement and innovation, not internal conflict.
