… seeks more support from Ekiti govt on welfare packages
From Kehinde Adewole
Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina has sought for more support from the Executive Governor of Ekiti State and chairman, Nigeria’s Governors’Forum, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi to cater for more welfare packages for the University staff members and students.
The step is part of the VC’s relentless efforts towards ensuring that FUOYE staff members and students get the best of welfare packages for their well being.
A statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday from the media office of the VC, and signed by Special Adviser on Media Matters to the VC, Wole Balogun, disclosed that Prof. Fasina in a meeting with Governor Fayemi on Tuesday afternoon, appealed to the state governor to assist FUOYE with more shuttle buses in addition to the 50-seater bus currently in use for subsidized transportation scheme for the staff members.
Balogun’s statement qouted the VC, in his address to the governor, as saying: “The visitation panel came with us to pay homage to the governor. Governor Fayemi has been extremely good to the University for the past years. He tarred the road in our campus and has done several other things to assist the University.
“I have introduced some welfare packages for the staff and students, one of which was a bus for subsidized transport system. The staff members are very happy about this and all of them want to enjoy it. So we need your assistance for more buses. I have brought a letter of appeal in this respect. The campus is stabilized now and there is peace.”
The S.A:s statement further disclosed that a team of the Federal Government visitation panel to FUOYE, led by Prof. Ejike Chukwunonso, were also part of the VC’s entourage that visited Governor Fayemi.
It qoutes Prof. Ejike, in his address to the governor, as saying : “The visitor to all the Federal Universities, President Mohammed Buhari, has constituted the visitation penels. Our task is to visit all the universities and find out how well they are faring in administration and other areas, and get the feedback to the President so that he would know in which areas he should assist. FUOYE is very dear to the President. We are happy to be here and grateful for the warm reception from His Excellency. We are almost through with the assignment and will soon submit report..”
Governor Fayemi in his address, warmly received the VC and his entourage, he also gave his candid advice to both the University Management and the Visitation panel.
The VC’ media aide’s statement qoutes Governor Fayemi,l as saying: “You have been here for sometime and been undertaking the assignment given to you by the Visitor. From what you must have seen, this is a very peaceful state and we are known for our passion for education. We see ourselves as the intellectual capital of Nigeria. And we have lived up to that reputation.
“We were delighted when the then President Goodluck Jonathan decided to create more federal Universities. I was the the governor of this state then when FUOYE came and I was instrumental to the location of the University.
“The University has done so well since inception. It has grown in leaps and bounds, a kind of growth that has been meteroic. It is the Federal Ministry of Education and the NASS that is delaying its renaming to the Adeyinka Adebayo University. The presidency has done its part in that regard.
” It is appropriate to have this periodic visitations. I had done such visitations to our local University before and it paid off. We believe as Ekiti people that the University must pay its due not just to Nigerians, but to Ekiti State.
“The policy of not having indigenes holding very key positions in the Federal University has since changed. We regard Prof. Fasina as our local man because he married from Ekiti. Our people still want more, they want their son or daughter to be the VC of the institution or be one of the very key principal officers.
“This is not to subvert merit or to promote neptoism. We have very many qualified sons and daughters for the key University positions in the state. There is a very strong current that the University is not really localized in this regard.
“In my opinion, I think the University should make haste slowly; it is good that all the faculties have begun. These are areas you should look into in localizing the University. Do not sacrifice quality for proliferation.
“Also, let the catchment area policy of Universities privilege Ekiti. Prof. Fasina is very determined and will really do well. He should make haste slowly. The Governing Council of the University should learn from the past mistakes to make things better in future official businesses. This is our Unuversity and since education is our passion, we will do all we can to assist the growth and development of the institution.”
On the team of the Governor were the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Biodun Oyebamiji, Commissioner for Education, Dr. (Mrs.) Aderiye, S.A to the governor, Mr. Folusho, and his private Secretary, who received the VC’s team.
While the Visitation panel members included Prof. Ejike Chukwunonso from Alex Ekwueme University, Mrs. Mercy Foluso Kolego, Prof. Ezenwa N, Dr. Mohammed Jawal, Malam Ibrahim Dangiya, Engr. Adamu Yakassai who are all retired Directors from the Federal parastatals, the FUOYE Management team comprising Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Adminstration, Prof. Olusola Omotola, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academics, Prof. Olusola Ojo, Acting Registrar, Mr. Mufutau Ibrahim, University Librarian, Dr. Isaac Busayo , Deputy Director, Corporate Affairs, Mr. Adeyinka Ademuyiwa and other officials at the VC’s office were on the team of the VC for the visitation.
