As FUOYE awaits VC Fasina’s return from six-month leave
By Joseph Andrew
In April this year, the Vice Chancellor (VC))) of Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina, had proceeded on a six-month leave shortly after he was cleared by the institution’s Governing Council of the allegations of sexual harassment made against him by a staff of the university, Engr. Folasade Adebayo.
The university council led by Distinguished Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and erstwhile Senate Leader, had set up a nine-man committee to investigate the sexual harassment allegation levelled against the VC by Engr. Adebayo.
The report submitted by the committee upon completion of its investigation was subjected to a thorough, rigorous and meticulous review by the council members, conducted with utmost conscientiousness. At the end of the thorough examination of the committee’s report, no case of sexual harassment was established, same conclusion that the police arrived at in their report after an earlier investigation they had carried out.
Coming out clean from the different investigations done to ascertain the truth about the sexual harassment allegation against him, Prof Fasina was said to have applied for his 11-month accumulated leave which would have ended with the expiration of his five-year tenure in February, 2026. But the Governing Council approved only six months for him on the ground that whoever he nominates to stand in for him while he is away cannot be there as acting VC beyond six months by law.
The acting VC, Prof. Olubunmi Shittu, who has been holding brief for the VC, will complete his six months in acting capacity on October 13, while Prof. Fasina resumes on October 14 to complete his five-year term as the substantive VC. Fasina, who is believed to have recorded tremendous achievements and made remarkable feats as FUOYE VC, placing the 14-year-old Ivory Tower on a very high pedestal of development, is eagerly awaited by members of the university community from his leave that has taken him away for six months.
With the VC’s return, the university community anticipates a new era of stability, peace, unity and sustained growth. The erudite VC Fasina, a distinguished Professor of pedology and renowned educationist, is expected to come back and push through a number of issues that only a substantive VC can handle.
Rumours of possible violence and attacks ahead of Fasina’s return being spread by some elements have been roundly dismissed by different stakeholders and members of the university community.
For instance, the leadership of both Christian and Muslim groups within the institution, while dismissing fears of likely violence or attacks by anyone, in separate statements, maintained that the university community was cheerful ahead of the VC’s return. FUOYE’s religious leaders stated that the VC is on an approved leave, sanctioned by the relevant authorities, and his return can never be marred by speculation about potential unrest or rejection.
The chaplain of the university, Pastor Samuel Osamuka, deemed it unwarranted for anyone to speculate about opposition to the VC’s return, given his commendable performance over the past four years, which has earned him the appreciation of the university community.
According to Pastor Osamuka, “The VC went on research leave, which he willingly requested and was granted by the university’s Governing Council. So, coming back to the office, you don’t need to ask whether there will be peace or not.
“He is still the substantive Vice-Chancellor, and it is like I have gone on leave, do I need to be calling people, whether I should resume or not? No! So there is no violence in FUOYE, and we should not insinuate that.” The FUOYE Chaplain said “the VC is gladly welcome back to his duty.”
Expressing the joy of the Muslim group over Fasina’s resumption from the six-month leave, the immediate past Chairman of Muslim community in FUOYE, Prof. Hammed Olaide, remarked: “The FUOYE Muslim community always prays for our amiable VC, Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina, because of his numerous contributions, development, and valuable assistance he has been rendering for the FUOYE Muslim community. We are full of joy to receive him back and welcome him back to the university.
“The VC only went on leave and has to resume after the expiration of the leave. I don’t think there is any issue or roadblock that will prevent him from resuming his official duty.”
FUOYE’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr. Foluso Ogunmodede, in his reaction to the expected return of Prof. Fasina was reported to have maintained that the university was unaware of “any element who may not be comfortable with the VC’s return.” Mr. Ogunmodede said as the substantive VC of FUOYE, Fasina has done so much for the university to deserve a rousing reception from his six-month leave.
Speaking on the return of Fasina from his six-month leave, President of FUOYE Alumni Association, Mr. Temitope Arogundade, said: “As alumni, we are ambassadors of FUOYE. Enough is enough, we must begin to portray our university in a very good light.
“We need to sustain peaceful co-existence on campus because it is only in a peaceful environment that we make meaningful progress.
“No doubt, Professor Fasina has done very well for FUOYE, and this is obvious to everyone. As one of the pioneer students, I know what I am saying because we know where we were before he assumed office and where we are now.
“So, when he returns, we expect him to consolidate where necessary so that FUOYE can continue to align with its vision and mission.”
Arogundade, said to be a staff member in the university’s SIWES Unit and one of FUOYE’s pioneer students, noted that under the watch of Prof. Fasina, the institution has been repositioned as one of the most thriving, most innovative, and most serene universities in the country.
The leaders of the various staff unions and associations in FUOYE also made it pointedly clear that they were not in any way opposed to Fasina’s return. For them, Prof. Fasina has a five-year mandate to administer the affairs of the university, and therefore remains the substantive VC till his tenure expires in February 2026.
Fasina, a prolific researcher with over 140 publications to his credit and several awards in his kitty, has left an indelible mark of excellence and outstanding performance on the university as he prepares for the expiration of his five-year tenure as FUOYE VC upon resumption from his six-month leave. FUOYE has under his able and dynamic leadership grown exponentially to become the 4th most subscribed university in Nigeria from data made available by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
Through Prof. Fasina’s pragmatic and purposeful leadership, FUOYE has witnessed unprecedented growth, marked by transformative infrastructure development and strategic initiatives. His visionary leadership has catapulted FUOYE into global prominence through groundbreaking projects and forward-thinking approaches.
Only recently four of FUOYE lecturers and scholars were named among the world’s top 2% scientists. A latest release by Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, placed FUOYE as 11th among Nigerian universities. All these are believed to have been made possible as a result of Fasina’s foresight in strengthening the university’s research infrastructure, promoting innovation, and engaging in partnership with international bodies and institutions.
Joseph Andrew wrote from Abuja
