* Tertiary institution brings development to environs – Oba Adesoji
By John Odunjo
For the people of Isinbode Ekiti in the Ekiti East Council area of Ekiti State, the approval by the Federal University to their community to host two programmes of the ivory tower signals development in all ramifications.
As such, as the news of the approval for the programmes billed to take off at Isinbode Ekiti in October filtered into the community, the people rolled out drums to celebrate the breakthrough, which they are sure will attract other developments.
As the youths filed out with band sets, drumming, singing and rejoicing, women in the community were not left out as they joined the younger ones to celebrate the outreach of a university in the town which had craved the presence of tertiary institution.
The traditional ruler of the community, the Onisin of Isinbode Ekiti, Oba Akinyemi Adesoji, who said the joy of his people was not unfounded, said, “In any environment where you have tertiary institution, definitely, there will be development there.
“It will improve social life and the economic activities of the community. Even, those youths in community, who have not been willing to further education would be inspired, have change of mind, and opt to study further because the school is now at their doorstep.
“We are all happy about the development. You had to see, on the day the news filtered into Isinbode, it was like a carnival. Our youths came out in joyous mood with band sets. There has been happiness for the development since then, the Onisin said”.
The traditional ruler, who shed light on how his community came about it, said, “We requested for two programmes and both have been approved for us.
“We requested for Centre for Traditional and Herbal Medicine Research and Development (Pharmaceutical Garden). We also requested for a satellite campus for Part-time Programme, the university graciously approved the two.
“The two were approved for Isinbode based on the strength of the memo and the credibility of the requests. By the grace of God, the two programmes, will kick off by October this year,” he said.
Oba Adesoji, who lauded FUOYE Council and management for their developmental approach, said, “The gesture to Isinbode is part of ways to support the move of the governor, Biodun Oyebanji, in his quest to improve educational system in Ekiti State.
“With the programmes that FUOYE is running and its approach to development and impact on the environment, the university is fast moving, it has moved ahead of a lot of others.
“The Vice Chancellor, Prof Abayomi Adesina, is a genius. He is busy working 24 hours on how to develop the institution. He is a workaholic. God has helped him to have management members who have the same mission and vision with him on the university.
“My community, through the Isinbode Youth Association, has written a letter to the VC to acknowledge and appreciate his gracious gesture,” Oba Adesoji said.
The university, while confirming approval of the two programmes for Isinbode Ekiti, said it was in line with its policy of impacting communities and bringing education closer to the grassroots.
FUOYE Public Relations Officer, Foluso Ogunmodede, said, “The university has approved Pharmaceutical Garden for its Pharmacy students to have their practical and research on herbs and mixing drugs are Isinbode.
“The school has also extended its Institute of Part Time on Computer Science to Isinbode Ekiti. It will be an affiliate of Institute of Part Time, FUOYE.
“It is one of the cardinal principles of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abayomi Fasina, that the school must impact communities in the state in terms of education, research, economy and social activities.
“This brings to six the communities where FUOYE has education consults in the state. Apart from Oye Ekiti here, we are at Ikole Ekiti, Ire Ekiti, Ayegbaju Ekiti, Itapa Ekiti, Ifaki Ekiti and now Isinbode Ekiti to bring education closer to the grassroots,” Ogunmodede said.
