Kehinde Adewole
Barely 24 hours after a media war ensured between the Management of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) and a faction of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) represented by Prof. Olu Olu, zonal leader, ASUU, Akure, and a former local leader of ASUU, FUOYE, now suspended for misconduct, Gabriel Omonijo, the new Chairman, Governing Council of the institution, Dr. Mohammed Yahuza, has thumbed up for the Prof. Kayode Soremekun-led management team for “performing creditably well in the area of providing adequate facilities to ensure a conducive teaching and learning environment in the school”.
The crisis in FUOYE had bordered over issues of alleged secret recruitment, financial misappropriation and others which the ASUU faction was yet to prove.
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While speaking with newsmen after his inspection of the facilities in FUOYE on Tuesday, Yahuza said, “My immediate impression about the infrastructural project in FUOYE is splendid. I am very impressed with what I have seen, particularly the infrastructure and also the huge efforts that have been put in place by the management to utilise resources to complete these many infrastructural projects. This highly commendable.
” I have also seen the cordial relationship that exists between the Vice-Chancellor and Management team, especially the way the management team have supported the Vice Charmian to achieve this laudable feat. This shows that there is harmony between them. Such is very rare in an administrative environment, so I am very impressed.
” From what I have seen here, what the former Governing Council and Management have done to bring up these huge infrastructure, I am very optimistic that in the next four years, this University will be among the first generation varsities in the country.”
Yahuza who blamed poor funding of the University system in the country on huge fall in oil price as Nigeria’s main source of revenue, as well as the recent outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, expressed hope that the situation would change as soon as the economy situation improves. “With the gradual improvement in the prices of oil, I am sure government will put in more effort in finding the University system,” he said.
He also expressed hope that Nigerian academia will soon find a vaccine for the pandemic adding that he was sure there are many intelligent academics and researchers in the area of medicine in Nigeria who will deliver the vaccine if given the required funds and support.
Yahuza promised to build on the symbiotic relationship that had existed between Prof. Soremekun’s led FUOYE management and the former members of the Governing Council, and expressed optimism that with the current level of development in the school, FUOYE will rank among the first generation of Nigerian varsities in about four years time.
The new Chairman of FUOYE Council therefore appealed to all staff to further collaborate with the management team for further achievement and success.
Responding to the encouraging comments by Yahuza, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Soremekun said he was elated that the new Chairman has made positive pronouncement on his performance as VC of the school for over four years now.
” Let me begin by appreciating the new Chairman of FUOYE Council. We have taken him round the school and he is evidently impressed with the state of facilities in the University. To that extent, I am happy, happy because I am at the twilight of my tenure in the University and I am very elated to have been able to make huge impact as regards the provision of facilities in the two campuses of Oye and Ikole in FUOYE.
” The new Chairman has also plegded to build on the cordial relationship that has existed between our management team and the former members of Governing Council and we are looking forward to such a symbiotic relationship with his team so that we can jointly take FUOYE to greater heights. As it is now, FUOYE is ranked very high among varsities in Nigeria but we do not just aim to be ranked high in Nigeria but in the whole world,” he said.