…as VC promises higher heights for Ivory Tower
The Presidential visitation panel led by Prof.Ejike Chukwunonso to assess the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), has described as very impressive the relationship that currently exist between the University and host communities, i.e Oye-Ekiti, Ikole-Ekiti and others.
A statement made available to newsmen on Friday by the Media office of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina, and signed by his Special Adviser on Media Matters, Wole Balogun, disclosed that the visitation panel, which has been in the University for several weeks and interracted with several sections and communities in the state, made the remarks during a special party, organized by the monarch of Oye-Ekiti, Oba Oluwole Ademolaju, in collaboration with FUOYE to honour members of the panel.
While describing as awesome their experience during their stay in Oye-Ekiti, chairman of the Visitation panel, Prof. Ejike said; “This place has been so good to us. You are the most hospitable traditional ruler I have ever met. We are particularly impressed about how the average Oye people conduct themselves. We have interracted with virtually all sections of the town. We have found out the challenges in the University, particularly the one you singled out . We believe that a community that willingly gave its land for the varsity should be appropriately compensated
“The former VC told us that even when they had challenges with accessing land the Kabiyesi usually intervene personally. We thank you for your hospitality to the university not only to us. We will tell the President that the project he put here is growing in leaps and bounds and that they also require government intervention in some ways. We have taken care of all these needs and we will tell Mr. President in summary that the job he started here is growing and the local community is supporting the project. I have reasons to come back here again.”
In a welcome address to the panel members, the National President of Oye Progressive Union, (OPU), Elder Lucas Oniyelu, said:” We welcome all of you and appreciate your coming to us in Oye-Ekiti. Relatively, we are all at peace. Since God bestowed on us the University with the current VC who can testify to all I am saying here, we have been at peace. We are on the same page with the management of FUOYE.
“Ours is one of the leading towns and we are very glad for seeing you in the palace and the Kabiyesi is so happy to receive you. By the Special grace of God, you will not regret coming to us.
Also, in his welcome address, Oba Ademolaju, who is a former Chairman, Ekiti Council of Obas, said he was receiving the panel members in a traditional way. He presented some local cuisine and asked some of his Chiefs to demonstrate to the panel members how the delicacies could be taken. He said: “l am traditinally welcoming you to Oye with these delicacies, the roasted yam shows my readiness to receive you, the garden eggs show what I am. As you are going home, I will give seedling of some plants which you will plant in your place. It is a healing seed. The palm wine is there for you to taste, you will drink the palm wine and enjoy it. It is to show that we love you.
“I am conveying a message to the President through you to say that we are very grateful to him for allowing you to come on a Presidential visitation panel. We mark today as a special day for us.
I can say Oye-Ekiti is a federal town because we enjoy some Federal presence and still want more.
There is an Ordinary National Diploma programme here for the whole nation. The Federal Ministry of Science and Technology has also just built a Training school here which would be commissined soon. We are grateful that the President is also rehabilitating our roads. We applaud his efforts in developing this town.
“The Federal University Oye-Ekiti is growing in leaps and bounds. Although, there are some PTF projects that are yet to be completed. We urge the President to assist us to complete these projects so that the University can have an outlook of a federal Institution..
“Whatever you write down for the varsity will be your memory here.
Prof. Fasina has just started and he is doing very well and we are ready to assist him to succeed. We have given 100 hectares of land for the proposed College of Medicine and we are ready to give him more. He knows how to wash his hands and dine with elders and he will eat with elders.
“The only one small issue we have with the varsity which the president is not aware of is that in 1974, we gave our land to the FG for a Teachers’ Training School but no compensation has been given since then. Even the about 500 heactares of land we gave to FG for FUOYE, we have not received any compensation from the FG.
We are not complaining but we feel we should ask for our rights.
This is the only issue we have with the varsity..FUOYE is our baby.
It will not cause any problem but at the same time when the people are deprived of their legal rights, they should be given something as palliative.
“We encourage you to come and live here. Our weather is very good and we have beautiful environment. To the university community, on behalf of our community, I am promising that Prof. Fasina and his team, you are safe here. You and all of your team are free to relate freely as our own people..
While appreciating the visitation panel and the monarch of Oye-Ekiti, Prof. Fasina said: “This gathering clearly shows that the Oye people including myself are very hospitable, We also appreciate the visitation panel for their good works. The level of your maturty and how you have related with us show that we still can exist as one in Nigeria. And that is a hope that Nigeria will survive.
“Kabiyesi, I remain loyal to you all the time. My passion is to develop FUOYE and this town. God is on our side. He is helping us and he has been helping us and he will always be with us. Someone said I am too much in an haste. For us, we are here to work as we have been praying that God shall continue to help us and he will continue to assist us.”
Balogun’s statement further reveals that members of the Presidential Visitation panel that graced the ocassion included Chief (Mrs) Foluso Kolajo, Ezenwa Mgbakwe, Dr. Mohammed Hi-jawal, Malam Ibrahim Dangiya, and Engr Adamu Yakassai.
The Oye-in-Council who are traditional chiefs of the palace included chiefs Eleko, Agbaje, Ogbolu of idofin, Agbalajobi, Obaleje, Iya Oye, Elebio, Awobusuyi, Yeyejero, Yeyerare, some members of the OPU and an illustriuos son of Oye-Ekiti, Mr. Lanre Adesuyi, Managing Director of Avillar limited, who is a friend of FUOYE.
On the Management team of the University were Prof. Olusola Omotola, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Ikole-Ekiti born Prof. Olusola Ojo, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academics, Acting Registrar, Mr. Mufutau Ibrahim, Acting Bursar, Mrs. Adebolanle Adekemisola Debo-Ajagunna, Chief Security Officer, Mr. Paul Ogidi, Deputy Director, legal Unit of FUOYE as well as other officials from the office of the Vice-Chancellor.
