FUOYE Pro-Chancellor, Ndoma-Egba, hails Oyebanji’s transformational leadership
The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council, Federal University, Oye Ekiti (FUOYE), Distinguished Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, SAN, has applauded Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji of Ekiti State for his transformational leadership which has ushered in a new era, paving the way for an overall development of the state.
Ndoma-Egba, a former Senate Leader, gave the applause on Monday, when he led the Governing Council of FUOYE on a courtesy visit to the governor, upon his official resumption as the new Pro-Chancellor after he was recently redeployed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (PBAT) from Federal University Lokoja (FUL).
He noted that Oyebanji has noiselessly made giant strides in different areas of the economy in Ekiti State, ranging from infrastructure, education, health, agriculture, urban renewal to security.
“Your Excellency, I have read and heard so much about your transformational leadership strides which have manifested in the values you have added within a short time to Ekiti State, in terms of road rehabilitation, investment in agriculture, urban renewal, payment of huge arrears of gratuity and pensions of civil servants, and in the maintenance of security of the land. I join others to congratulate Your Excellency for winning the Silverbird Year 2024 Governor Of The Year Award, which is a validation of your sterling performance,” Ndoma-Egba remarked.
Stating the purpose for the visit, the legal luminary added: “Ekiti State is the host of Federal University Oye Ekiti. Though a federal facility, we are part of the Ekiti ecosystem since our teaming staff and students live amongst the people in a manner that we are integrated in the socio-economic milieu of the land. It is, therefore, just reasonable and logical that whoever is sent on an errand to lead the governance of FUOYE must seek the goodwill of Your Excellency.
“For this reason, I have come to formally report to the Governor that I have been given a job to do on your land. Secondly, I have come to thank you for the great support you have granted to the university hitherto. The Vice Chancellor informed me that you have shown great love and interest in the university since your assumption of duty as Governor. For these, I am grateful. Thirdly, Your Excellency, someone said appreciation is application for more favour. Having thanked you for your support hitherto, I will like to seek greater partnership between your Government and the Federal University, Oye Ekiti.
“Specifically, the Visitation Panel sent by the Federal Government to assess FUOYE’S performance in the first ten years of its existence identified that the original owners of the land acquired for the University in Oye Ekiti were not compensated, which must have been the reason for encroachment on the university land by some natives. The other issue which is a corollary to the compensation matter, is that up till now, the State Government is yet to issue a Certificate of Occupancy to the university on the land. These two are my immediate requests, though our Oliver Twist will keep on making requests on Your Excellency as may be expedient. It will be appreciated if Your Excellency can be gracious enough to issue us the Certificate of Occupancy for the land released to the University in Oye, and that compensation be paid to the families whose plots of land were taken. Additionally, we kindly request Your Excellency’s assistance with the construction of a perimeter fence around the university, as well as support for the development of internal infrastructure, such as road construction.”
The Pro-Chancellor noted that FUOYE is the best and biggest of the 12 federal universities established by former President Goodlluck Jonathan, maintaining that “It is on the heels of the first-generation universities in terms of growth, depth of research and innovation. FUOYE is the 4th most sought-after university in Nigeria by admission seekers.”
Responding, Governor Oyebanji expressed confidence that with Ndoma-Egba as the Pro-Chancellor, FUOYE would witness greater development.
Recalling how he had followed the activities of the erstwhile Senate Leader, Oyebanji said: “When you were in the Seventh Senate, you were one of the few senators I took special interest in, because of the richness of your contributions on the floor of the senate and by the kind of leadership you espoused. You remain a leader that I have absolute respect for.
“I must congratulate FUOYE for having you as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Council. I must also thank the President for putting a fit and proper person as the chair of the council of the university.
“I can assure you that we will partner with you to ensure that we realize those indelible legacies that you intend to leave behind. On most of the issues you raised, especially the issue of Certificate of Occupancy, the state will take that up immediately. We will also look into the request for fencing and I will also tell you that work has already started on the road from Oye to Are Ekiti.”
The Vice Chancellor (VC) of FUOYE, Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina, a renowned professor of pedology (soil science), said the members of the university community were happy to have Ndoma-Egba as their new Pro-Chancellor, knowing his huge wealth of experience as a seasoned administrator, talented and astute lawyer, and politician of high repute.
FUOYE, established in 2011 and adjudged one of the fastest growing universities in Nigeria, currently has 12 faculties. The school with a stable academic calendar is believed to have recorded remarkable growth under the leadership of Prof. Fasina described as a transformative agent of change determined to take the institution to enviable heights.
