A former Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Emeritus Professor Kayode Soremekun, has urged Nigerian leaders to govern with a strong sense of history and pursue policies that will earn the country global respect.
He also called on Nigerians to shun actions capable of tarnishing the nation’s image, stressing that visionary leadership is needed to harness the country’s abundant human and natural resources for sustainable development.
Professor Soremekun made the call during a reception organised in his honour by the FUOYE Vice-Chancellor, Professor Joshua Ogunwole, and the university management at Eleventh Hour Hotel, Ado-Ekiti.
Drawing lessons from Israel, he noted that despite its limited land mass, the country has become a global leader in agriculture through innovation and the effective utilisation of available resources.
He challenged Nigerian leaders to maximise the nation’s vast resources and human capital to position Nigeria among the world’s leading nations in agriculture, science, technology and education.
”My message is that leaders should be conscious of history because they will not remain in office forever. Whatever they do will be remembered. If they serve well, history will remember them positively; if they fail, history will also remember them,” Soremekun said.
Speaking on academic excellence, the former Vice-Chancellor described university administration as a continuous responsibility that requires collective commitment.
He urged members of staff to support the vision of the current Vice-Chancellor and work together to strengthen FUOYE’s position as a globally competitive institution.
Prof. Soremekun, who expressed appreciation for the honour accorded him by the university management, also commended the remarkable infrastructural transformation across the institution and prayed for the success of Professor Ogunwole’s administration.
”For me, this is a very momentous occasion. It is historic and demonstrates that the current management, led by Professor Joshua Ogunwole, has a strong sense of history. The way they have honoured me today, God will also honour them,” he said.
Reflecting on his visit to the university, Prof. Soremekun said he was impressed by the significant progress made in infrastructure and institutional development, expressing confidence that Professor Ogunwole’s wealth of experience would further advance the university.
”I looked around the university and discovered that a lot has been accomplished. Given Professor Ogunwole’s vast experience, having previously served as Vice-Chancellor of a private university before assuming office at FUOYE, I have no doubt that he will succeed.
”I pray for him because he is a man with a large heart; selfless, generous, hardworking and industrious. He deserves every success in the years ahead. I also hope that after completing his tenure, he will attain even greater heights.”
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Joshua Ogunwole, described Emeritus Professor Soremekun and three other former Vice-Chancellors as visionary leaders whose contributions laid the solid foundation for the university’s growth.
He said he was delighted that Professor Soremekun accepted his invitation to travel from Canada to visit FUOYE, describing him as an administrator with exceptional analytical ability, strategic foresight and exemplary leadership.
Professor Ogunwole outlined his administration’s eight-point agenda, which focuses on world-class research, community engagement, infrastructure development, diversification of the university’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), entrepreneurship, accountability in financial management, staff development and academic excellence.
He reaffirmed his commitment to the welfare of staff and students, assuring that his administration would continue to maintain a cordial relationship with labour unions to promote sustainable growth and institutional development.
The Vice-Chancellor also disclosed that the university was concluding arrangements to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a Chinese company to attract investment, drive development and equip students with globally relevant skills.
In separate goodwill messages, members of staff described Professor Soremekun as a transformational leader whose tenure as FUOYE’s third substantive Vice-Chancellor witnessed remarkable institutional expansion and numerous developmental projects that continue to benefit the university.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Professor Tajudeen Opoola, Professor Amoo and Professor Adelani Tijani of the Department of Nursing praised Soremekun’s leadership, describing him as humble, visionary, courageous and committed to institutional excellence.
Also speaking, Mr Raphael Olarewaju commended the former Vice-Chancellor’s exceptional people-management skills and interpersonal relationship, describing him as a perfect gentleman, mentor, father figure and accomplished scholar.
The event was attended by principal officers of the university, including the Registrar, Alhaji Mufutau Ibrahim; the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Babatunde Afolabi; the Dean of the Postgraduate School, Professor Babatope Alabadan; Reverend Sister Professor Euphemia Chika Asogwa; deans, heads of departments, directors and other members of the university community.
