Prof. Fasina: Leading FUOYE To Academic And Administrative Excellence

An erudite scholar and distinguished professor of soil science, Professor Sunday Abayomi Fasina, took over from Professor Kayode Soremekun on February 11, 2021, as the Vice-Chancellor (VC) of Federal University Oye-Ekiti (fuoye“>FUOYE), after emerging winner of the transparent selection process supervised by the then Pro-Chancellor/Chairman of the University Governing Council, Dr. Mohammed Lawan. 

Many who knew Professor Fasina as a lecturer at Ekiti State University (EKSU), where he rose to become the Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Chairman of the Association of Deans of Agriculture of all Nigerian Universities, and later as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Admin) of FUOYE, were certain that he would transform and elevate the ivory tower when he emerged victorious from the selection process and was announced as Professor Soremekun’s successor. 

With less than four months remaining in his five-year term, Fasina has demonstrated beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is capable of holding the esteemed role of VC in a university setting. 

With more than 140 publications under his belt, the astute researcher and notable educationist proved his admirers correct when they predicted that he would perform as FUOYE VC. 

Although each of the earlier VCs contributed in some way to the expansion and development of FUOYE, Fasina is considered by many to be the most remarkable VC in the 14-year-old organization’s history. The pedology professor got right to work after taking office, using his exceptional administrative skills, strategic vision, and unwavering commitment to quality to propel success in his position as FUOYE VC. Fasina is renowned for his inventive spirit and unwavering pursuit of significant advancement. He is a visionary leader and creative problem-solver.

FUOYE has experienced rapid growth under his proactive, practical, and intentional leadership, with significant expansions in both academic programs and physical infrastructure. 

As a testament to Fasina’s vision and administrative skill, the university’s two main campuses in Oye-Ekiti and Ikole-Ekiti now proudly display a number of contemporary buildings. 

He has effectively expanded the university’s faculty from eight to eighteen, and the institution is said to take great pride in its emphasis on providing top-notch academic programs that both meet and surpass legal requirements. 

According to data provided by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), FUOYE has grown significantly under Fasina’s leadership to become the fourth most sought-after university in Nigeria, with a student population of nearly 60,000, up from 15,000 when he first met it on February 11, 2021. Similarly, according to the most recent Times Higher Education (THE) World Universities Rankings, FUOYE is currently ranked among the top 11 universities in the nation under his leadership. 

Fasina, who is widely regarded as the VC with the Midas touch, has propelled FUOYE far ahead of its competitors, even surpassing the majority of older universities in both domestic and international rankings. 

As the VC, he was well-prepared for the position and had a clear roadmap that made it possible for him to accomplish the incredible feats he has accomplished over the past four years and roughly nine months in the saddle. 

Prof. Fasina, a member of the All African Soil Science Society (AASSS), Nigeria Institute of Soil Science, Agricultural Society of Nigeria (ASN), International Union of Soil Science (IUSS), and Fellow of the Soil Science Society of Nigeria (FSSSN) and Horticultural Society of Nigeria (HORTSON), fostered an environment that made it possible for a number of staff members and students to be recognized for their exceptional academic achievements and research. For example, four FUOYE lecturers were listed among the top 2% of scientists worldwide just recently. 

Many FUOYE students who took professional exams, especially the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), passed with flying colors and became chartered accountants before they graduated because of the high standards and academic excellence instilled by Fasina’s administration. Numerous FUOYE students have won scholarships from the Federal Government and respectable organizations by outperforming their peers from other universities in various external competitions. 

According to reports, Fasina has completed over 150 projects since taking over as FUOYE helmsman, and he is still working nonstop to finish some of the projects he started in the few months remaining.

FUOYE‘s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) has significantly increased as a result of some of the project ideas he envisioned and worked to implement. The opening of FUOYE Business School, the creation of the Institute of Part-Time Studies (IPTS), the Center for Continuing Education, the FUOYE bakery and staff canteen, the FUOYE printing press, the FUOYE farm, and the FUOYE Sandwich program are examples of such initiatives that were intended to increase the IGR of the 14-year-old ivory tower and have greatly aided in the expansion of infrastructure in the university. It was reported that more than forty classrooms were constructed using funds obtained through IGR as a result of Fasina’s various initiatives. 

The Faculty of Education Building, the 3-in-1 Faculty of Science Laboratory, the Prof. Abayomi S. Fasina Conference Center, the Computer-Based Test (CBT) Center, the 1000-seat auditorium, the Professorial Office Center, the School of Postgraduate Studies Complex, the Faculty of Law Complex, the Innovation Hub, and the Sport Complex Pavilion are just a few of the projects completed and put into service at the Oye-Ekiti campus. 

Under Fasina’s direction, the following projects were finished and launched at the Ikole-Ekiti and Ayedun-Ekiti campuses: A 3-in-1 1000-seat Faculty of Agricultural Sciences Laboratory, two brand-new 200-seat lecture halls, a sports complex, a JAMB-standard CBT hall, a professorial building for the Faculty of Agriculture, a 250-seat lecture theater, and an ultra-modern laboratory.