FUOYE And Fasina’s 4yrs Of Transformational Leadership
By Joseph Andrew
Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina, a renowned professor of pedology, recently inducted as a distinguished member of the International Society of Diplomats (ISD), was on February 11, 2021, inaugurated for a five-year tenure as the Vice Chancellor (VC) of Federal University, Oye Ekiti (FUOYE), an institution that is evidently one of the fastest-growing university in Nigeria.
A prolific researcher and writer with over 140 publications to his credit, and revered winner of several research grants, Prof. Fasina, a forward-looking administrator and educationist of note, is believed to have impressively transform and reposition the 14-year-old university for greater heights, in the last four years of his administering the affairs of the institution.
Under his watch, FUOYE has grown astronomically and exponentially to become the fourth most sought-after university from statistics provided by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
Under his able and dynamic leadership, FUOYE is today the number 15 university in Nigeria based on information from the latest Times Higher Education World Rankings.
With a student population of over 50, 000, Prof. Fasina, widely described as a humble and compassionate leader, has succeeded in placing FUOYE far ahead of its peers and most older universities.
The workaholic student-friendly VC assumed office four years ago, with a clear and compelling vision, and a sense of purpose, which he has pursued vigorously and resolutely.
He took over the helms of affairs of the university with a well-defined roadmap that manifestly paved the way for the remarkable feats that have so far been recorded under his custodianship.
Despite inheriting a troubled university plagued by crisis, the astute professor of soil science, a man of great wisdom, acumen and sagacity, has successfully stabilized the institution with the complete restoration of peace and harmony.
Through his transformational leadership, as can be seen in the tremendous level of infrastructural development witnessed by the institution, stemming from his innovative initiatives, ground-breaking approaches and forward-thinking decisions, Prof. Fasina has succeeded in launching FUOYE into global reckoning.
He has adopted a teaching model that seamlessly integrates on-campus and online learning, ensuring high academic standards and flexibility.
In recognition of the way he has effectively administered the affairs of the institution with utmost rectitude, transparency and accountability, Fasina was in November 2022 honoured with the Integrity Icon of Nigeria Award as No. 3 out of 170 Vice Chancellors, while FUOYE was ranked among top 10 highly rated, corrupt-free and most ethically responsible federal universities by a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Centre for Ethics and Self Value Orientation (CESVO).
The NGO, focussed on exposing corruption, promoting ethical leadership and value orientation, had reportedly said that it was highly impressed by the speed with which Fasina was positively turning around the fortunes of the university, hence the award after scoring high marks in character and integrity, along with other leadership skills.
In 2023, the hardworking and visionary VC of FUOYE, was adjudged the Best Vice Chancellor in Nigeria by Digital Stardom Global Communications, organisers of the Stardom Global Awards, and was inducted into the Stardom Global Hall of Fame.
He reportedly emerged as the Best Vice Chancellor 2023 based on nomination received from individuals and organisations, and an opinion poll conducted online by the organisers where Nigerians voted to adjudge him number one out of 264 universities.
Prof. Fasina was also in 2023 honoured with an award tagged ‘An Icon of Excellence in Academia’ by the Ekiti State Correspondents Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) for his huge transformative contributions to FUOYE’s development and success.
A Fellow of the Soil Science Society of Nigeria (FSSSN) and Horticultural Society of Nigeria (HORTSON), Prof. Fasina has won several other awards, including the Southwest Nigeria Education Awards, Outstanding Administrator Award and NANS Best Performing Vice-Chancellor in South-West Award, all in recognition of his transformational leadership and outstanding contributions to advancing academic excellence and educational growth.
Also, a member of All African Soil Science Society (AASSS), Nigeria Institute of Soil Science, Agricultural Society of Nigeria (ASN) and International Union of Soil Science (IUSS), Fasina’s visionary leadership, has indeed positioned FUOYE as a leading university in the country.
The various awards that have been bestowed on him obviously underscore the VC’s tireless commitment to upholding the university’s core values of teaching, research and community engagement.
Fasina’s creation of a conducive environment for teaching and learning yielded impressive results, with numerous students and staff receiving prestigious awards for outstanding research and academic feats.
For instance, an accounting student of FUOYE had emerged overall best from among many other candidates who wrote the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) exam in 2023. Again, in 2024, nine undergraduates from the Accounting Department cleared their ICAN exams and became chartered accountants as students.
In 2022, the Federal Scholarship Board (FSB), granted N2.4m scholarship at N150, 000 each per session to 16 undergraduates of FUOYE, following their excellent performance at the Federal Government’s prescribed Computer Based Test (CBT). In the same year, nine outstanding students of the University floored their counterparts from several other universities in Nigeria to emerge winners of the UNESCO International Centre for Biotechnology and Oba Enitan Ogunwusi Adeyeye, Ooni of Ife scholarship awards.
In 2023, six FUOYE students participated in the National Association of Engineering, Geology and Environment (NAEGE), MTN contests for outstanding Nigerian students held in Minna, and the institution that has become well-known for its academic distinction under Fasina’s leadership emerged the overall best.
In the same year, two students who represented FUOYE in a quiz competition organised by the regional chapter of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS) in Ibadan emerged winners.
At the Inter-Varsity Geoscience competition tagged Jos 2024, FUOYE team emerged the overall winner of the Inter-varsity Geoscience Challenge Bowl in Jos, with many lecturers from the Geoscience Department receiving awards for their exemplary works as professionals and academics.
Seven FUOYE first degree graduates won PhD scholarships in the United States (US) and Brazil last year. In the World Scientist and University Rankings 2024, the AD Scientific Index, released in November 2023, two academic staff members of FUOYE were reported to have been listed in the Scientists in the World Top 20% category, while four were said to have emerged in the Scientists in World Top 30% category.
All these academic awards and laurels being won by FUOYE students and lecturers are, in the opinion of observers, a testament to FUOYE’s unwavering dedication to nurturing academic excellence, and producing exceptionally sound graduates, propelled by Fasina’s doggedness, indomitable will and quality leadership.
In the last four years, Prof. Fasina has demonstrated results-driven and collaborative leadership working assiduously round the clock with his reliable and serious-minded management team to aggressively pursue the implementation of various developmental initiatives. He is said to have so far executed over 150 projects since he came on board as FUOYE helmsman.
Some of his initiatives that were aimed at helping to boost the Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) of the institution and support infrastructure expansion include the establishment of the Centre for Continuing Education, the FUOYE Business School, the Institute of Part Time Studies (IPTS), FUOYE printing press, FUOYE bakery and staff canteen, FUOYE farm and FUOYE Sandwich programmes. About 40 classrooms are said to have been built from IGR generated from his several initiatives.
In the forthcoming 9th Convocation Ceremony of the University, holding from February 17 to 23, over 20 major projects executed under his pragmatic and proactive leadership in the different campuses of the institution will be commissioned.
The projects to be inaugurated at the main campus Oye Ekiti, according to reports, include 1000-seater auditorium, Prof. Abayomi S. Fasina’s Conference Centre, 3 in 1 Faculty of Science Laboratory, New Computer-Based Test (CBT) Centre, Professorial Office Centre, School of Postgraduate Studies Complex, Faculty of Education Building, Faculty of Law Complex, Sport Complex Pavilion and Innovation Hub.
The projects to be commissioned in Ikole-Ekiti campus and Ayedun-Ekiti campus are an ultra-modern laboratory, two new 200-seat modern lecture halls, a JAMB-standard CBT hall, a sports complex, a professorial building for the Faculty of Agriculture, a 250-seater lecture theatre, a 3-in-1 1000-capacity Faculty of Agricultural Sciences Laboratory, and two blocks of two classrooms donated by Hon. Akintunde Rotimi.
Prof. Fasina equally saw to the establishment of FUOYE Microfinance, FUOYE Business and Transport Centres, FUOYE Model Staff School, FUOYE Shopping Complex, Institute for Food Security and Commercial Agriculture (IFSCA), Centre for Energy Research and Centre for Psychological Services Clinic, Channelization and Construction of ring roads linking phases 1, 2, and 3 in Oye-Ekiti campus, Construction of befitting University Gate, Construction of the Student Union Building, Improved CBT equipment and decentralization of CBT Centres, creation of FUOYE Internet Distribution System (FIDS) and many other landmark projects.
From 8 faculties when he took over four years ago, FUOYE which is now in affiliation with over 15 international institutions, currently has about 15 faculties offering a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
Only recently, FUOYE secured the approval of the National Universities Commission (NUC) for 22 new academic programmes.
In the last four years, the Fasina-led administration in FUOYE had secured not less than 60 accreditations for different programmes offered in the university.
Professor Fasina has received widespread commendation for his monumental achievements as FOUYE boss.
Last year September, he got a parliamentary applause for his remarkable performance as FUOYE steward when the House Committee on University Education visited the institution in exercise of its oversight function.
Amazed by what they saw on ground, the House Committee members led by its Chairman, Hon. Abubakar Hassan Fulata, applauded the VC, maintaining that he is doing wonderfully well while acknowledging his laudable efforts towards the development of the Ivory Tower.
A German researcher, Dr. Ilsemargret Luttmann, was filled with admiration for Prof. Fasina when she visited FUOYE in May 2024, seeing what the VC has achieved within the period he has spent in office.
Dr. Luttmann who came from Leuphana University, Germany, averred that the VC deserved cheers for the uncommon feats he has recorded through his transformational leadership.
In the same vein, when the President of Academic Staff Union (ASUU), Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, went to FUOYE on a working visit in August 2023, he reportedly hailed the VC for the restoration of peace to the university and the giant strides recorded under his stewardship.
Members of the University Community have continued to sing Fasina’s praises for his unprecedented record of achievements, and for making the welfare of students and staff a major priority.
The various bodies of staff and students have separately passed a vote of confidence in the VC’s leadership, declaring their total support for him in his persistent drive to completely change the face of FUOYE.
Said to have been a very responsive and responsible leader, mentor and father to the students, Prof. Fasina has ensured a timely promotion of staff members.
Over 2,000 staff members have been promoted including those who were being denied promotions for years.
The VC has ensured periodic training and development of staff, creation of an environment devoid of intimidation for all staff to grow and develop themselves.
In all, there is a general consensus that indeed it has been four years of transformational leadership in FUOYE under the quintessential reformer, philanthropist and highly regarded professor of soil science.
The VC, it is believed, has in the last 4 years exhibited the four basic elements (4 I’s) of transformational leadership, which, as espoused by the late Bernard Morris Bass, who was an American professor and scholar in leadership studies, include: Idealised Influence, Intellectual Stimulation, Inspirational Motivation and Individualised Consideration.
The 4 I’s, which enable leaders to inspire, motivate and empower their followers to achieve exceptional results, combine to guarantee performance beyond expectations as can be seen with Prof. Fasina in his headship of FUOYE.
*Joseph Andrew wrote from FCT, Abuja*
(vitalnewsngr.com)
