…assures him of their strong support
From Kehinde Adewole
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has assessed the efforts of the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina, within the short time he assumed office and thumbed up for him.
This was just as the VC promised the students’ national leadership that he will do more to ensure students under his watch enjoy the best in FUOYE.
A statement made available to newsmen in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday by Wole Balogun, who is Special Adviser to the VC on media matters , disclosed that national President of NANS, Comrade Sunday Asefon, led a team of the NANS national Secretariat in a visit to Prof. Fasina on Wednesday to congratulate him, commend him for his good works and also assure him of the Union’s strong support always.
The statement qouted comrade Asefon as saying: ” lt is a pleasure that the Secretariat of NANS is here to meet you. Since I emerged as President of the Naitonal Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) I have spoken with you on phone severally but I haven’t come officially.
“You had supported us spiritually and in other ways while we prepared for the election that brought us in. You are one of those who wanted us to be in this position. I had prophecised that we wanted someone like you to be the next VC. It was also prophecised that I would have been the President of NANS while you would be the VC, FUOYE. We thank God those prophecies have now come to fruition.
“We have come to officially congratulate you, and also to assure you that we are your sons, your soldiers and your loyalists.
Our father, we are here today as NANS to also assure you that we will do everything possible to support this University. I have also made up my mind to make sure that we attract tetfund projects more than ever before into the two Universities of Ekiti State University and FUOYE. It is our my pleasure to be here and we are equally here to appreciate your efforts since you have emerged as VC of this University.
“We read about your gracious approval of some millions of Naira for payment of school fees of indigent students in FUOYE and this gladdens our hearts. These are things we want visionary management to do in order to show that they have the interest of the students at heart.. We know the giant strides you made in the Ekiti State University. We know your glorious antecedents. You have been doing very well.
“And your achievement within this short period has convinced us that your being the VC of this great University is not an error. We sincerely appreciate that gesture of assisting indigent students to pay their school fees.Such gesture will prevent such students from becoming nuisance to our society by taking to banditry, kidnapping and what have you. Now, they will concentrate on their studies and become future leaders.
“Since you have been on ground as the VC, we are glad that the Students Union Government (SUG) here have had no complainants about your leadership.
We know you as a man of his words. Again, be assured that we will do everything possible to support you and the Management of this University. “
Another member of the team, Comrade Kadiri Olawale, who graduated from Ekiti State University, recalled Prof. Fasina’s days as a lecturer and administrator in his Alma mater, adding that the Fasina he knew as a student leader in the University then was a great motivator, inspiration and supporter of lofty dreams by students.
His words: “Your emergence as VC is coming to us as a big relief because we know the students here are under the safest leadership we can get anywhere with you in the saddle sir. This is because you truly understand the dynamics of the leadership of the 21st Century for the students. And this is why we are happy for you. We are planning to hold a national retreat for students on how to plan a violent free protest to engage Stakeholders to meet students’ yearnings and demands and we want to bring this to FUOYE also. We are sure you will support us.
Responding, Prof. Fasina said: “
I have a very high regard for students and that is why since I came on board I have attended very keenly to their welfare. l also have huge support for NANS. The national President, Comrade Sunday Asefon is a good brother and my great brother-in-law because he hails from Ado-Ekiti where l married from.
“I assure you, l shall always operate an open door policy with the NANS. I have given a brand new car to the Student Union Government of this University.
I am also building a befitting Secretariat for them. I will lay the foundation of that building before my 100 days in office. And we will seek for corporate bodies to support in bulding the Secretariat.
We enjoyed our University days and I wish those good days should return. This is why l am doing my best to please our students.
We are making efforts to bring power into the campus at night so that there will be night life on this campus and we can also use that to aide security situation on campus
.
“We are building more hostels to accommodate about 70 percent of our students’population.
I have always enjoyed good relationship with the students.
My number one priority as VC is students and staff welfare.
If the environment is good and conducive, the students would perform very well. Just last week I bought a tractor worth over 80 million Naira for our Agriculture faculty. It was a complete package and we are very hopeful that that development will go a long way to making our agriculture faculty and investment to be vibrant.
“My dream is to train students who will create jobs. There were times I put in my personal recourses into ensuring that things work out well and soon enough. When you give students very good training and you empower them such as handing out loans so they can start their own businesses, you would not need to be worried about how they would be employed. Nigeria today needs a lot of production to survive, forget about oil, it is gone. It is only massive development in Agriculture that will save this country.
“The NANS now have a vibrant leader in Comrade Asefon. I will cooperate with you excellently. We will work with you to ensure we have better opportunities to change the face of student unionism in Nigeria. Asefon has performed excellently so well as we have heard many ways you have been assisting the students. Continue to listen to your students and be around them. Feel free to approach us any time so we can continue to collaborate on how to get things done better. Once again, I assure you that students under my watch will not suffer. We have provided shuttle bus for staff and students. And we have many more welfare packages for them in the nearest future.”
