…as FRSC, NSDC pledge support for VC
From Olanike Olawole-Orebe
Foremost Paramount ruler of Ado-Ekiti, the Ewi of Ado, Oba Rufus Aladesanmi Adejuyigbe, has said that the emergence of Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina as Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), was a blessing to the people of Ado and Ekiti in general.
While describing Fasina as the best man for the job, the monarch expressed optimism that Fasina’s tenure as the chief executive of the upwardly mobile Ivory Tower would be the best in the history of the institution.
This was just as the VC was assured by both the Ekiti Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mrs. Elizabeth Funmilayo Akinlade and her counterpart, Sector Commander of the Nigerian Civil and Security Defence Corps, Mr. Solomon T. Iyamu of their support and collaboration with a view to ensuring that he had a hitch-free tenure in office.
They said this during a courtesy visit by the VC to the palace of the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti and the Sector Command headquarters of both the FRSC and the NSCDC where he was warmly received by his hosts.
Addressing Oba Adejuyigbe and the Ewi-in-Council, Fasina disclosed that apart from being a son-in-law to the monarch by virture of his marriage with one of his illustrious daughters, he had since taken Ado-Ekiti as his second home.
He said: “My wife is from Ado-Ekiti and I have been here for over 40 years. My children married from Ekiti so I have chosen this place as my second home.
“Ado-Ekiti is in charge of FUOYE. We want to partner with Ado-Ekiri and we want to appreciate you for all you have been doing for us. Ado-Ekiti is my hometown and there are so many things we can do together.
We are here to pay homage and assure you of our support. I am your son and I am available for you. Whatever you ask us to do we will do so as to ensure that we maintain mutual and symbiotic relationship which will bring progress for both of us.
Respondng, the Ewi of Ado, said: “Our son and-in-law, Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina, we thank God for your emergence as the VC of our dear University, Federal University Oye-Ekiti.
“We appreciate God for choosing you because even when the University followed due process it took the grace of God for the best to have emerged. We appreciate those whom God used for you to emerged as VC now, and by extension, we appreciate your predecessor in office , Prof. Soremekun, for how God has used him.
“We appeal to the other members of the management of the University to extend same cooperation to the current VC, Prof. Fasina. A tree does not make a forest. Every member of the University community, from the VC to the cleaner, are important. If you all work in unity, that is when you will make progress. So, I appeal to all to cooperate with VC. It is only five years and it will soon end.
“There is no time to play or play politics. Your time should be used for serious business so that you can make your mark for the period you are there. You have demonstrated here that you belong to us. You have said we owe the University and with that many would come to my palace for one request or another. And I wish you would be able to satisfy them. I also appeal to all that this your son is willing to satfisfy you. Please understand things with him. The University belongs to all in Nigeria, because it’s a federal University. Ekiti is only a catchment area and we know the implications of that. We appeal that our qouta as a catchment area the VC should give us. That is the only federal varsity in Ekiti and here, our major industry is education. And even when Prof. Soremekun was there you have always been with us and helping us.
” I have told people not to worry because the man who have been helping us when Soremekun was there is now our VC.
We appreciate you very much. Education is a very important tool we can equip our children with.
We have nothing less than 500 of our children who need jobs in the University. Please continue to assist us, we will be grateful.
“On behalf of Ado-Ekiti people we welcome you and pray God will be with you. You have started well you will end well. We pray that in the history of that varsity, your tenure shall be the best.”
Also, Fasina was warmly received by both the FRSC Sector commander Ekiti State, Corps Commander Elizabeth Funmilayo Akinlade and NSDC state Corps Commander, Mr. Solomon T Iyamu during his visit to their offices.
While addressing the Corps Commanders in their offices, the
VC assured them of continued support and sought their collaboration for a symbiotic and mutual relationship.
He assured the FRSC that FUOYE will soon offer academic programmes in Transport Studies as well as courses at the post graduate level which officials of the corps could study to further hone their skills and attain higher heights in their profession.
However, Fasina urged the two state’s sector Commanders to feel free to approach FUOYE for relevant assistance and support, pledging to operate an open-door policy for all stakeholders.
Fasina said: “l am very happy to be here. We are here to pay homage. We are here to pledge our support. You have been doing a lot of excellent work and we are ready to collaborate with you in training, research and other relevant areas for our progress.
“The job you are doing is a life-saving job and we will colllaborate with you. We want to start a Transport Studies so we can collaborate with you.
We will also advocate for more facilities in your sector. We would like to see computers with everyone and a generous deployment of digitalization.
” I think we have got to a stage in this nation where things should be digitalized. Your sector needs massive support. We support what you are doing and pray that the Lord will continue to help you.
There are opportunities for part-time studies both regular and part time, we already have Criminology as a course of study, Peace and Conflict Resolutions and Security Studies. We are working on a department for Transport Studies and we will soon have these programmes at the post graduate level. We urge you to support us.”
Also, the VC advised some students of FUOYE who were currently on internship with the NSCDC in Ekiti, urging them to be good ambassadors of the institution.
