“Religious leaders, traditional rulers, chiefs, staff, students converge on FUTES Campus, offer prayers for meaningful progress as students are charged to focus on their studies and shun negative tendencies and social vices”
By John Odunayo
The Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences, Iyin Ekiti, Prof. Gbenga Aribisala, has assured of an institution that is global and globally competitive.
Aribisala, who said that lectures would officially begin in the new university on Monday, 19th January, 2026, said, “FUTES was specially designed to breed students who would have meaningful impact on society in terms of technology and help to proffer solutions to problems of unemployment and environmental challenges. Measures have been put in place to achieve all the lofty dreams”.
The VC spoke at FUTES on Thursday during a prayer session for smooth academic excellence, breakthroughs in meaningful research works, and rapid development of the institution.
The gathering offered prayers for smooth academic excellence, breakthroughs in meaningful research works, and rapid development and as well against untimely death, disunity, rebellion, stagnation, kidnapping, retrogression and other forms of evil against both staff and students.
The VC said, “We are ready to deliver quality education to our students, which will make them a class of people who are safe from unemployment. I want to commend our staff and students. The newly recruited staff have quickly adjusted and have been active and supportive, making the students comfortable.
”The first lecture will start on Monday by God’s grace. We appreciate the contributions of President Bola Tinubu; the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele; the Minister of Education, Dr Olatunji Alausa; traditional leaders and religious leaders for their support at times”.
He advised those pressuring him over admission and recruitment to wait for another time, saying admission for 2025/2026 session had been concluded and students had resumed for academic activities, added that staff recruitment had also been concluded.
The VC said, “For those pressurizing me, admission for 2025/2026 academic session has closed. We have done the admission, students have resumed. For recruitment of staff, in December, the names of people who were successful in the recruitment exercise was taken to council and council had approved it.
“People, who are still looking for job in FUTES are advised to look elsewhere for now or wait for next available opportunity. We followed due process on this appointment, we advertised, we received applications, we did interviews.
“The university has been able to recruit top scholars. This university will be global and competitive globally. We have concluded admission and recruitment, don’t trouble the VC for these again for now.
Aribisala, who disclosed that President Tinubu had approved take-off grants for FUTES to do projects, said, “We have identified the projects. The projects will commence next month. In addition on Tertiary Trust Fund intervention to develop institutions, “our university has been considered. These projects will be sited on the permanent site.
The VC, who reiterated the institution’s commitment to welfare of staff and students, said, “We have a transportation policy now, as soon as possible, we are going to make transport available. That we make it easy for staff and students to come from different areas to the university.
“The university that we envisaged and have started is a fully residential university. We are here to mould students, not only in education, but character” as he cautioned that the institution would not tolerate cultism, unregistered associations or groups, night parties, clubbing, and other youthful exuberant activities which could drag the name of the university into mud.
The VC canvassed support of individuals and corporate organisations for development, saying, “There is no way that the university can do everything and provide all the facilities. We are going to go round Ekiti people, national people, we want you to assist with buildings, such will be named after you.
“You can assist with equipment, we need workshops, we need laboratories, it is capital intensive university. I like to plead with corporate organizations, individuals to come to our Macedonia and help us. You can even help us and partner with us in the area of public private partnership”.
In his message, the General Evangelist of the Gospel Faith Mission International, Dr Ezekiel Falade, tasked the students, “You should be obedient, focused and you should have the fear of God. You should focus more on your studies and serve God and carry God along in whatever you are doing”.
The cleric, who called on the staff to shun every negative behaviour that could set back the progress of the university and academic programmes, assured, “Definitely, there shall be new songs in this university. This university will begin to witness good things. We will begin to experience academic excellence and break through”.
The Oluyin of Iyin Ekiti, Oba Adeola Ajakaiye, who welcomed the students to his community, assured that they were in safe hands.
Oba Ajakaye said that the community had set up a committee on the issue of rents to ensure the students were not exploited in addition to having dialogued with commercial bike operators on the need to ensure fares were not hiked.
The monarch advised the students to prioritise safety and always report any strange movement in their environments, adding, “We have our own internal security committee and we put a lot of things in place to checkmate any intruder”.
The Registrar, Mr Oluwole Dada, encouraged some of the staff and students who were yet to do necessary registration and profiling to do so.
Dada urged the students to always keep to the rules and regulations of the university, saying that the university would not hesitate to show the way out to anyone found wanting or flouting the order.
Also at the programme were a Governing Council member of FUTES, Prof. Rotimi Sanya; the Oluyin-in-Council; the Alare of Are Ekiti, Oba Boluwade; the Olomu of Omu Ekiti, Oba Oluwadamilare Omobiire; the Elesure of Esure Ekiti, Oba Adebamiji Ajibola; the Oniropora of Iropora Ekiti, Oba Joel Ajayi; the Eleyio of Eyio Ekiti, Oba Olatunji Fajigbe; and the Chief Imam of Iyin Ekiti, Alhaji Useni Sanusi.
