“The remarkable heights attained by FUOYE under the visionary leadership of Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina are presently being diligently sustained through the acting Vice-Chancellorship of Professor Olubunmi Shittu, a clergyman and distinguished scholar”
By Wole Balogun, PhD
On August 1, 2025, the Governing Council of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), under the outstanding leadership of Distinguished Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, formally announced the vacancy for the position of Vice-Chancellor.
This moment marks not just a procedural step, but a significant milestone in the continuing story of FUOYE’s growth and transformation. It presents a golden opportunity for forward-thinking, visionary, and passionate academics to step forward and compete in the race to occupy the highest office in the ivory tower.
In the same spirit of progress, FUOYE has successfully appointed Heads of department and unit, as well as directors, and has elected deans of faculty, all in a bid to strategically position the university for another era of impactful and fulfilling academic advancement.
From all indications and in light of its remarkable trajectory, FUOYE appears destined for sustained greatness. Established in 2011 as one of the twelve federal universities signed into law by former President Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, FUOYE has, in just over a decade, advanced at a pace that distinguishes it markedly from its contemporaries.
From inception, FUOYE’s unusual dual-campus structure, unlike that of its sister institutions, signaled an ambitious path for expansion and institutional exploits.
This distinctive start was complemented by the appointment of its pioneer Vice-Chancellor, Professor Chinedu Nebo, an erudite scholar and former Minister of Power. His admirable leadership and strategic administrative capacity ensured that the University commenced on a grand scale, laying a durable foundation for future milestones.
He was succeeded by Professor Isaac Azuzu, a humane and scholarly administrator whose tenure, though not up to five years, was characterised by institutional consolidation, staff welfare, and steady progress.
Following him, the mantle passed to the admirably humble, astute, and public-spirited Professor Kayode Soremekun, who served diligently for five years. His administration deepened the legacies of his predecessors, expanding the University’s faculties to eleven.
Among these was the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, which laid the essential groundwork for the establishment of a full-fledged College of Medicine.
On 11 February 2021, in what many considered a providential appointment, Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina emerged as FUOYE’s fourth substantive Vice-Chancellor.
His hard work, strategic foresight, and pursuit of excellence have elevated FUOYE still further, consolidating its reputation as one of Nigeria’s fastest-growing and most dynamic federal universities.
Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina is arguably the most outstanding Vice-Chancellor in the history of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti. He assumed office exceptionally well-prepared for the demands of the role, bringing with him a rare blend of administrative acumen, strategic foresight, and an unyielding commitment to excellence. A highly resourceful manager of people and resources, he is known for his creativity, thoughtfulness, intellectual depth, and consistent drive for impactful development.
Under his stewardship, FUOYE has expanded impressively to comprise seventeen faculties, including disciplines crucial for the twenty-first-century engagement. These encompass Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, Software Engineering, Journalism, Public Relations, Broadcasting, Information and Communication Engineering, and a robust suite of programmes in the Physical Sciences, among others.
Professor Fasina’s leadership reflects his vast experience as a globally engaged scholar, widely travelled and active in cutting-edge research. His tenure has been marked by transformational growth in infrastructure, with his sound management leading to significant physical development across the University. Today, the twin campuses of FUOYE are adorned with hundreds of modern structures, standing as visible testimony to his visionary leadership and effective administration.
Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina’s tenure has been distinguished by a steadfast commitment to fairness, merit, and excellence in human resource development.
He has overseen the due and deserving promotion of over 100 professors, alongside numerous promotions for lecturers and non-teaching staff. This approach has enhanced morale and strengthened institutional capacity across the University.
His passion for excellence in all spheres has translated into remarkable outcomes for students, who have excelled both academically and in extra-curricular pursuits such as sports, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Notably, nine students now recent graduates earned their ICAN certification while still undergraduates at FUOYE, an extraordinary achievement that underscores the University’s academic rigour.
Equally impressive, seven high-achieving fresh graduates secured doctoral scholarships at prestigious universities in the United States and the United Kingdom, affirming the global competitiveness of FUOYE’s academic training.
Staff achievement has also flourished under his watch. Several lecturers have secured major research grants worth millions of Naira, enabling high-impact scholarly projects and enhancing the University’s research profile.
Indeed, the list of these success stories under Professor Fasina’s sterling administration is extensive, reflecting a sustained culture of excellence at FUOYE.
Under Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina, FUOYE students were groomed in excellent leadership skills, an example of which was a One-Day Vice-Chancellor contest which produced a female student VC whose leadership for 24 hours boosted the ego of her fellow students immensely.
The remarkable heights attained by FUOYE under the visionary leadership of Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina are presently being diligently sustained through the acting Vice-Chancellorship of Professor Olubunmi Shittu, a clergyman and distinguished scholar. His stewardship reflects continuity, stability, and the preservation of the values that have propelled FUOYE to its current standing.
As the University approaches the transition to a new substantive Vice-Chancellor on 11 February 2026, the task ahead, while undoubtedly demanding, will be built upon the solid foundation laid by Professor Fasina. The challenge before the next Vice-Chancellor will be to sustain and surpass these achievements, steering FUOYE towards even greater distinction.
It is our hope that FUOYE will once again be blessed with a leader of exceptional attributes in the mould of Professor Fasina, or even one who will surpass his accomplishments, to guide the University into its next phase of development.
May FUOYE continue to flourish and excel, overcoming every challenge, to the glory of God.
