…as VC promise to collaborate with monarchs for smoother relationship
From Kehinde Adewole
Youths in Oye Local Government Area (LGA) of Ekiti State have plegded to ensure that the administration of Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina as Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) remains peaceful, productive and devoid of any violence or rancour between the surrounding communities and the University. They said this will gurrantee more progress and development in both the University community and surrounding towns.
A press statement by the Special Adviser on Media Matters to the VC, Mr. Wole Balogun, disclosed that the assurance by the youth leaders was given to Prof. Fasina on Tuesday when leaders of 10 youth associations in the LGA, led by their Chairman, Engr. Fagbemi Oluwafemi, were hosted warmly by the VC in a fruitful parley that held inside the VC’s board room at the Central Administration building of the Oye campus of FUOYE.
The meeting, which was initiated by the body of Oye LGA youth leaders, comprising all presidents of Youths’ associations in each of the communities, had in attendance top functionaries of the FUOYE Management team including the Registar, Mr. Olatunbosun Odusanya, the Bursar, Mrs. Bolatito Roseline Akande, the DVC, Administration, Prof. Sola Omotola, Deputy Registrar, VC’s office, Mr. Mufutau Ibrahim and the Chief Security Officer, Mr. Paul Ogidi.
While addressing the VC on the purpose of their visit, Comrade Fagbemi who was frank in his approach, said: “We are here to appreciate God on your becoming the VC and to advise you on things you should do as VC to smoothen our relationship with you. Many would tell you lies but we won’t. We do not want a continued hostility between this institution and surrounding communities in Oye Local Government area. This is our land. Whenever there is any crisis between the University community and youths in the Local Government areas, please rely on us to solve such issues and be assured that we are peacful people.
“We urge you to be watchful, don’t let people deceive you. Ensure to always read them between the lines. Make sure you deal with each of our leaders here directly yourself whenever you have matters or issues relating with any of our communities.
“We assure you that we will discourage any attempt by anyone, within or outside FUOYE, to forment trouble in this institution. We know what hurdles you passed through before you became VC and we equally know that it is God that installed you. And we assure you that we won’t be a party to destruction in FUOYE.
“We urge you to always open your doors to dialogues. Don’t take people for granted. Our obas know we are here. We will work with you and stay with you. God will be with you. We will defend your administration whenever the need arises. And we won’t allow anyone to cause trouble for you in FUOYE.
“Let us have regular meetings from time to time for us to be giving you information and how to handle certain issues. Most of our monarchs need more of your attention. Kindly grant them. We will have a meeting with them on your behalf to further smoothen your relationship.
“We learnt that some principal officers who once served here have allegedly exhausted the qouta for employment into top ranks of non-academic positions in FUOYE for Ekiti indigenes, but we still urge you to consider our graduates seeking for employment by using your discretion,” he said.
Responding, Prof. Fasina, in his usual charismatic manner, assured the youth leaders of his administration’s sincere support for the growth and development of the various communities in Oye LGA. He said: “It was God that brought me here as VC, it wasn’t man. I saw God’s hand during the events that eventually brought here as the VC.
” If God has destined somebody to be in a position of authority, He will support his elect, this is what the Bible says. God has given me the opportunity to be here and I will be fair to everybody.
” I am more of an Ekiti man. I married from Ekiti and my daughter married an Ekiti man and so I want Ekiti to support me to take this University to the next higher and better level. I have very great plans for the youths in Ekiti in terms of empowerment for their growth and development.
Speaking about his administration’s plans for surrounding towns, he said: “We are bringing development to communities in Oye LGA. One of them is a sandwich Programme of FUOYE that is soon coming to Itaji-Ekiti. Our Students’ Union Government (SUG) who have been working harmoniously with this administration, have developed a comprehensive plan to bring more investment opportunities and make FUOYE’s twin campuses a hub of several social programmes, businesses and exciting environment. Their plans include FUOYE having a mini Mart, shopping malls, befitting resturants, and more recreational centres, etc for more robust development and as Management, we are buying into the idea. By the time we implement such ideas, there will be huge opportunities for youths in Oye LGA to become enterprenuers and get more jobs here.
“I have been involved as DVC and I know those things that this institution still need to do for a continued peaceful co-existence with your communities and l assure you, we will do those things because you have been part of the progress of this University.
“I would not deceive you because l have always delt with people with the fear of God. I am determined to take FUOYE to far more greater heights. I want to leave a very good legacy behind. I am not boasting, go and ask about me in Ekiti State University (EKSU). God had used me to build the faculty of agriculture there, with adequate equipment and to also promote 17 professors, they are still there.
“I can easily visit EKSU because I haven’t destroyed my name there.
If a man lives and he doesn’t impart other peoples’ lives positively, he hasn’t done anything. I shall reach out to every youths in all Oye LGA. We will have you in mind first in all our programmes. We will empower the youths in Oye. In future employments, we will consider Oye LGA, especially for junior staff. We urge you to give us more ideas on areas of development and partnership, we will buy into them.
“This administration is planning on working more with monarchs in Oye LGA and we will soon invite all of them for meetings so we can discuss on how we would build relationships on partnership.
We will empower ltaji for Agricultural development and sandwitch programmes of the University. The community gave us five hectares of land. I know as Oye LGA, you have more stakes here more than any other communities in the country, although this is a federal institution. If you have people that are qualified, we will consider you for admission and jobs in FUOYE. We assure you of our continued support” he said.
Leaders of youths associations in various communities in Oye LGA that were in attendance at the meeting included Osungbemi Ayodeji of Oloje community, Abe Moses Ojo, Imojo community, Afolarin Oyetunji of Omu community, and Adebayo Adebola of Itaji community.
Others are Osunlade Oluwafemi of Ayede community, Ojo Joseph of Ilupeju community, Akilo Sesan of Ayegbaju community, Owolabi Oyegoke of Ire community and Onipede Oluwaseun of Itapa community.
