Every Ekiti son or daughter interested in FUOYE’s growth – Ndoma-Egba
The new Pro-Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council, Federal University, Oye Ekiti (FUOYE), Distinguished Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, has said that the people of Ekiti State have shown great affection and demonstrated strong support to the institution established in 2011 by former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Ndoma-Egba, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), stated this when he, along with the Vice Chancellor (VC), Prof. Abayomi Fasina, led members of the Governing Council of FUOYE on a courtesy visit to Chief Afe Babalola, the renowned philanthropist, erudite professor of law and founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD).
In his speech during the visit, the Pro-Chancellor who told Chief Babalola that he came to inform him of his resumption as FUOYE Pro-Chancellor/Chairman Governing Council, attributed the support Ekiti people are giving to the institution, despite being a federal university, to their love for education and hos.
“The governor (Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji) was in Abuja but came back to Ekiti to receive a Pro-Chancellor. Sir, the way he (the governor) received us when we visited him is the same way you are receiving us. Virtually every paramount ruler in Ekiti is interested in what is happening in the university. Virtually every Ekiti son or daughter that I have known all my life has called me to give advice, give suggestions, and offer accommodation and hospitality.
“Education in Ekiti is everybody’s business. Everybody is interested in what is happening. So, being an Ekiti man yourself, you have raised the bar. You have confirmed something that I have always known, which is that anything that the human mind can imagine is possible.
“In 15 years, ABUAD has achieved what several universities that have existed for decades, 6, 7 decades are still very far from achieving. In 15 years, you achieved what several other universities achieved against several generations. So, I want to congratulate you for your foresight.”
Comparing FUOYE to its peers, the Pro-Chancellor noted that the university has witnessed tremendous exponential growth that needs to be properly manged for it to be sustained.
According to him, FUOYE has in 14 years become the 4th most sought-after public university in Nigeria, 15th best university in the country from the Times Higher Education ranking and has a student population that is about 55,000, while most of its peers were still struggling with less than 15,000. He added that the number of applications received for admission this current academic year was 55,000.
Responding, the 97-year-old elder statesman welcomed the FUOYE Governing Council members and thanked Ndoma-Egba for accepting to be the institution’s Pro-Chancellor, expressing confidence that the former Senate Leader has the capacity and experience to uplift the institution.
Chief Babalola also described the VC, Prof. Fasina, the man that is believed to have demonstrated pragmatic and purposeful leadership in the running of the affairs of FOUYE, as a humble brilliant man ever ready to learn.
The one-time Pro-Chancellor of University of Lagos (UNILAG), who said he rejected ministerial appointments from two different presidents, identified funding as one of the main challenges confronting public universities in Nigeria.
“Ask yourself how much money is given to public universities or state universities for capital expenditure. You will find that it’s not enough.”
Upon arrival at ABUAD, Ndoma-Egba and other members of FUOYE Governing Council were first given a tour of the university campus. ABUAD houses a hospital known as the Afe Babalola University Multi-System Hospital, farm village and industrial park which has different factories for processing rice, cassava, cashew, maize, pepper, yam and many others.
FUOYE Governing Council discovered multiple areas of potential synergy from the visit, which, according to the Chairman, will be explored.
