…as he visits faculties to listen to their needs
From Kehinde Adewole
Newly inuagurated Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina has assured that he will still teach, supervise his students and attend academic conferences even as he performs his duties as the Chief Executive of the Ivory Tower.
He gave the assurance on Tuesday during his tour of all the faculties in the institution to familiarize himself with staff and available facilities and also listen to other needs of each faculty.
Prof. Fasina who was accompanied by the Registrar, Bursar, Deputy Registrar and Deputy Director, Corporate Affairs of the school, I.e Mr. Olatubosun Odusanya, Mrs. Bolatito Akande, Mr. Mufutau Ibrahim and Mr. Ademuyiwa Adeyinka respectively, was welcomed with pomp and pegeantry when he called at the faculty of Arts where he was warmly received by both staff and students led by the current Dean of the faculty, Prof. Tajudeen Opoola, Pioneer Dean, and current Ekiti State Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism, Prof. Bakare Ojo Rasaki, and Deputy Dean/Head of department of Theatre and Media Arts, (TMA), Dr. (Mrs) Lilian Bakare and other HODs and senior staff.
An interesting dance performance by some students of TMA in the faculty and a poem presentation by another female student as well as prayers in both Christian and traditional way offered by two senior lecturers, added colour to the ocassion.
While welcoming the VC in his address, Prof. Opoola said: “We appreciate God’s kindness to you and His fulfillment in making your dream of getting to the epoch position of your career in life a reality. He will surely guide your decisions on topical issues that do accompany the occupation of the Vice Chancellor’s seat.
” Faculty of Arts today, also expresses gratitude to the immediate past administration of Prof. Kayode Soremekun with whom our present Vice Chancellor had faithfully worked as DVC Administration and during whose tenure this Faculty had witnessed a tremendous progress in many areas too numerous to enumerate in this address. We wish our former Vice chancellor a wonderful and peaceful life out of office.
” There are well over 70 members of Academic staff in the Faculty with six (6) academic departments, including the NUC newly approved two departments. The departments are; English and Literary Studies, (ELS), Theatre and Media Arts ( TMA), Linguistics and Languages , History and International Studies, and the two new Philosophy and Religious Studies departments.
” In spite of being one of the two pioneering faculties, our faculty is still domiciled in her temporary site. It owns one of the best theatre complexes in Nigeria. Our Department of Linguistics and Languages now has a Digital Language Laboratory that is opened for the Vice Chancellor’s familiarization tour.
” There are more than enough books in the University Library for all the six academic programmes in the Faculty of Arts. However, we still need to acquire more especially for ELS and TMA in readiness for the forthcoming accreditation exercise in March 2021.
” There are 2,357 number of students in the Faculty as at today, with English and Literary Studies having 729, Theatre and Media Arts, 548, Linguistics and Language, 560, History and International Studies, 530. However, the new programmes, Philosophy and Religious Studies are yet to have students, ” he explained.
Prof. Opoola also stated some of the challenges of the faculty to include lack of an elaborate Faculty Building, more staff offices and furniture, more furniture, and Insufficient number of teaching staff and studio workers especially for Theatre and Media arts Department and also power supply.
He also stated several achievements of the faculty which included a functional Deep well and pumping machine, personally donated by himself as the Dean which has stopped the dearth of water supply in the faculty, full NUC accreditation status for Linguistics and Languages and History and International Studies achieved in 2019, third place award of Theatre and Media Arts students at the African Drum Festival which produced a Cash price of five hundred thousand naira 500, 000 that was paid into the university account immediately., hosting of the Society of Nigeria Theatre Artists (SONTA) 31st annual convention and international conference and publication of Faculty of Arts. Journal, ‘The Oye Journal of Arts, as well as other publications such as the Theatre and Media Arts departmental Journal, Alarinjo, a Festschrift in honor of Prof. Matthew Abiodun.
the pioneer Head, Linguistics and Languages Department, publication of English and Literary Studies, ‘Oye Journal of Literature and Popular Culture’, establishment of Philosophy and Religious Studies Departments and completion of Post Doctoral Programmes of three notable Scholars and Staff of the faculty who are Dr. (Mrs) Gbadegeshin, Victoria, Dr. Paul Onanuga, and Dr. Adeoye Mike and promotion of Academic Staff to Professorial and other Cadres, with three of the academic staff promoted to Professorial cadre in October 2020, who are Professor B. T. Opoola, Dr. Laide Nasir, Reader (Associate Professor, and Dr. Desen Mbacha, Reader (Associate Professor).
Reminding the VC of an outstanding promotion, Prof. Opoola said: “We are awaiting the pronouncement of Dr. Bifatife Adeseye by the grace of God and the benevolent of the University Management and Council.”
While reinforcing the Dean’s appeal for more support for the faculty, Prof. Bakare, also said: “The gentlemen and ladies who are in this faculty should individually be given awards of the most selfless government workers in Nigeria. You have a virile faculty of Arts because of the selflessness of these people as they have worked hard to ensure this faculty sustain its efficiency. We believe this is the time for you to wipe away our tears and we know we have a lot to give to this University and it is our desire you assist us so that we can perform optimally. God bless you.”
Responding, an elated VC, Prof Fasina said: “This faculty is very productive. I do not think any other faculty has acheived what you have achieved , for instance, three eminent scholars from this faculty have completed their post-doctoral programmes and I am very proud of you. It shows that you know what you are doing and you have great scholars here.
” I will speak with the Registar and Bursar because this faculty deserves a befitting complex. I will work very hard to ensure that you have a new faculty. I think when you motivate, you can renovate.
Yesterday I was at the students’ hostels just to see the facilities there and I told the students that we will soon have a one day VC to create a enabling environment for healthy competition to achieve academic excellence among them.
” Idle hands make many people to write petitions. The idea of the varsity system is for scholars to show what they have. As VC I still teach students, supervise my candidates and attend conferences etc. I will be attending global conferences soon because I don’t want to lose my international contacts. This is for the benefit of our institution.
” I can assure you that we are working very had to graduate the PG students in record time. We urge our senior colleagues.
If you know you can’t supervise a doctoral candidate for three consecutive years don’t take them. We are putting up a monitoring team to monitor supervision of PG students. For my own PhD students, they are graduating in record time. I commend you for ensuring that post graduate students are doing well. We will advertise for the new programmes of Philosophy and Religious Studies very soon. I am working towards we having international linkages with the new courses. You have been able to show us what you can produce, As from today, we will task faculties to show their products before we assist them financially.
” I am a VC from the inside not from outside and I read people around me. I have seen a lot of potentials in this faculty And l will begin to make use of them. I will attend to your major needs which can be done quickly within 100 days because I am planning to ensure we have an achievement in each faculty in my 100 days in office,” he assured.
