The Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) has commenced week-long activities marking its 9th Convocation Ceremonies that highlight the institution’s academic achievements, research breakthroughs and infrastructural developments.
Speaking at a pre-convocation press conference on Monday, February 17, 2025, the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina, expressed pride in the university’s progress and reaffirmed its commitment to excellence.
Professor Fasina emphasized that the convocation was not just about conferring degrees but also a reflection of FUOYE’s growth, its contributions to knowledge and its impact on the community.
He said the ceremonies would feature different projects commissioning, free healthcare services, staff awards, academic recognitions and an endowment fundraising drive, with the event culminating in the conferment of honorary degrees and a convocation lecture by the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Architect Sonny Sylva Echono.
A total of 8,444 students will also receive their degrees, including those from undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmes.
Those to be given honorary awards during the programme include Senator Kanu Godwin Agabi, CON, SAN – Former Attorney General and Minister of Justice of the Federation; Chief Christopher Adebayo Ojo, SAN, FCI, CON – Former Attorney General and Minister of Justice of the Federation; Mr Segun Alebiosu, Managing Director, First Bank of Nigeria and Dr Allen Onyema – Chairman, Air Peace Airline, among others.
According to the Vice-Chancellor, since assuming office in 2021, he has prioritized strengthening the university’s academic foundation with over 1,900 academic and non-academic staff promoted, underscoring the school’s dedication to professional development.
Staff have also benefited from capacity-building programmes, including conference participation, postgraduate training, and research funding, while the university has attracted international collaborations with prestigious institutions such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research in Germany.
Prof. Fasina hinted that as a result of the partnerships, FUOYE will host distinguished scholars from TROPOS later this month for specialized academic training.
He maintained that the university’s research output has gained global recognition, with over 2,169 publications in reputable international journals, while it has also improved its standing in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings and the World University Rankings to solidify its place as a top-tier institution.
Professor Fasina pointed out that staff welfare has been a major focus of the current administration in addition to promotions, while housing initiatives and tuition rebates have been facilitated for their children, noting that discussions are ongoing for the development of 200 housing units in partnership with Federal Mortgage Homes to provide affordable accommodation for university staff.
Highlighting Infrastructure development, he said over 30 new lecture halls, state-of-the-art laboratories, office spaces, and student hostels have been constructed across the Oye and Ikole campuses, while facilities such as the Faculty of Law Complex, Faculty of Education Building, Professorial Complex, and Innovation Laboratory have been completed; just as a new Senate Building, additional hostels, and sports facilities are also underway.
The Vice Chancellor acknowledged that FUOYE has also excelled in sports, securing third place at the South West Athletics Competition and winning multiple medals at the Federation of Africa University Sports (FASU) Games, with the university’s football team ranking first in Ekiti State, second in Nigeria, and third in Africa.
In the area of research funding, FUOYE scholars have secured prestigious grants, including one from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for postdoctoral studies in Data Science and Analytics, just as it has gained recognition in the petroleum sector, with Professor Olusola J. Ojo being appointed as the PTDF Chair Professor of Petroleum Geology.
Professor Fasina noted that FUOYE would remain committed to strategic initiatives that will drive future growth, referencing the Green Revolution Initiative, launched in 2023 as a key project focusing on sustainable agriculture, while the university has already cultivated 15 hectares of oil palm as part of its efforts to support Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
He submitted that FUOYE would continue to focus on expanding opportunities for students and staff while strengthening its impact on national and global academic landscapes.
