By Kehinde Akinpelu
Ilorin
Some Deans and Students of the Federal University, Oye Ekiti ( FOUYE) have said that the nomination of a former Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina is good for the country.
They said if the nomination is confirmed by the Senate, Professor Fasina will advance Nigeria in all positive ramifications.
Recalled that President Bola Tinubu recently sent his nomination of Professor Fasina to the Senate for confirmation as a non-career ambassador/high commissioner-designate.
Both the Deans and students of FUOYE told journalists during separate interviews that Fasina, has great international connections, enviable antecedent and intellectual sophistication, capacity and capability to represent the image of Nigeria very well in the prospective country of his posting.
They stated that he will attract more collaborations and linkages to Nigerian universities and those of his host country.
They emphatically assured that he will use his diplomatic position to advance Nigeria’s education sector.
The respondents are: Dean, Computer, Information Engineering, Dr Dayo Sobowale; Dean, Faculty of Law, Dr Adeola Kehinde; Dean, Students Affairs, Prof Tope Babalola; Olumuyiwa O. Ajayi and Head of Administration, NANS, Comrade Taiwo Owolewa.
Sobowale said : “The President (Tinubu) does not do things without readings and without adequate research.
“We knew the nomination was coming because of the type of person Prof Fasina is.
“I have worked under him for years. I have seen him transform FOUYE from nowhere to place the university on the global map.
“We even have more students than some first generation universities, it is under his administration as a VC.
“So, when we heard of the nomination, we said it was timely.
“He worked hard for five years in the university and getting this nomination is not surprising to us.
“Professor Fasina will represent the image of this country well.
“Any country is protected within six months, you will start feeling his impact in Nigeria here.
“I can say that confidently because I worked directly with him, and I know what he stands for.
“When it comes to work, he is someone who is highly innovative.
“Any country he is posted to, he will look at what is in that country and how to bring in more through Public Private Partnership.
“He is going to create a synergy so that Nigerian and Nigerians will benefit from that country.
“He started by saying ‘think outside the box,’ later he said, ‘think without the box.’ That means you do everything to ensure that you think without the box. That means be innovative.
“What it takes with such an assignment is innovation.
“You can adopt technology or borrow it from another country.
“When he was FOUYE VC, he will send people to other universities to understudy them, what they are doing rightly and are getting results, will be replicated in FOUYE and such a model will be a lasting one.
“That is what we are thriving on now, to improve the model, that will be a lasting one.
“I am certain, he will turn things around in any assignment he is given for the nation.
“Collaboration is one of his areas of strength when he was VC.
“He increased the financial strength of the university from N2billion to N12 billion.
“He also set up a special directorate for linkages and advancements which was not in existence.
“That directorate was his brainchild and it was saddled with the assignment of linkage to the external world and getting grants.
“The result is over there. He did the blueprint and it has been adopted and it is successful.
“Even now that he has left, that footprint is being followed. You can be very sure that when it comes to international connection, it is area.
“He has international exposure and connection.”
Kehinde said: “His posting will definitely be impactful on Nigeria’s educational sector.
“Looking at his anticedent as a former FOUYE VC, he did exceptionally well.
“His achievement this time will be more enormous because I am sure that he will put in more efforts to ensure that he does not disappoint the President for the confidence he reposed in him.
“As at the time he was in FOUYE, he had many achievement, physical, infrastructural, human capacity development etc, it was so enormous.
“He will increase linkages and collaboration between universities of Nigeria and those of other countries that he will be posted.
“At the time he was FOUYE VC, he brought in a lot of collaboration between FOUYE and universities across the world.
“So many institutions all over the world collaborated with FOUYE and they are still existing till now.
“When is there as an ambassador, he will definitely do more.
“I worked closely with him as Dean of the Faculty of Law.
“Looking at his antecedents as former VC of FOUYE, he did exceptionally well.
“He performed excellently well and took the university to that enviable height that it is today.
“FOUYE cannot be compared with its contemporaries now.
“He took FOUYE to another height entirely which is very glorious. That is an achievement for him.”
Babalola said: “Prof Fasina embodies advancement of education, not only in FOUYE but in Nigeria general.
“As a matter of fact, many of the calls that I got after his announcement were from NANs, Women body, students, etc, all their comments centre that they trust that Prof Fasina’s appointment will definitely attract benefit to Nigerian educational system based on his antecedents.
“During his tenure, there was not break in the academic programme. He took care of the interest of the students.
“His posting will lead to the advancement of education sector in the country.
“Infact, Nigerian students, based on my interaction, have high expectation that his appointment will bring advancement to the education sector in Nigeria.”
Owolewa said : “His being an ambassador will bring more opportunities for Nigerian students.
“It will open more opportunities and scholarships, international linkages for Nigerian students.
“We have strong belief that Fasina will perform because we have tested him before and we know that he did not fail us as students, students leaders and the student community.
“I believe he is going to do the same thing in this new position.
“His posting will bring synergy and more information on how students will benefit from foreign linkages and collaboration.
“I believe he is the best man and the best thing for President Tinubu to nominate him and give him this great opportunity.”
He added: “FUOYE is one of the fastest growing universities in Sub-Saharan Africa then ably led by him.
“He sharpened the university system to the extent that it is now competing with other universities that have been in ages. That is the work of Fasina.
“We have the confidence that if he is given the opportunity, he is going to perform better as an ambassador.
“Nigerian students will benefit from his appointment because he is a man that wants to see us growing.
“He is going to do more as an ambassador. He is going to open more opportunities for students and Nigeria.”
Olumuyiwa O. Ajayi said to Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina is eminently qualified for the office of Ambassador-Designate and deserves the support of all who place merit, competence, service, and due process above sentiment.
“As the Hausa proverb aptly states, “Zakaran da Allah Ya ce zai yi ƙara, ko a cikin duhu sai ya yi” — the rooster destined by God to crow will crow even in the darkness.
“Ultimately, no amount of controversy, speculation, or opposition can overshadow a record of service that stands on its own merit.” (vitalnewsngr.com)
