FUOYE: A CALL FOR OBJECTIVENESS (An update of "At A Time Like This")
As our institution grows both in age and development it is expected that members of the community will equally advance in prosperity, experience, technicalities and moral standard. No matter how little or slow it may be, it's obvious we are not stagnant.
Reading different opinions on the current state of affairs in the institution calls for serious concern. Mostly especially that of the proponents of discord, nepotism and stigmatization coming from faceless groups or individuals.
It is important we review our past, check where we are today and view where we are going to or where we desire to be. With this, we will not only be progressing individually but collectively. We cannot afford to add stigmatization and discord among members of the community to our lingering problems that is yarning for attention.
These faceless groups have continued to show in their write-ups that they want to use division to push their cause in a community with members from nooks and cranny of the country.
FUOYE have come a long way going through series of phases. What she requires now is visionary leadership and supportive followership that will address pending matters and as well compliment, sustain and enhance the out-going Vice Chancellor infrastructural developments, programmes and other areas of the University.
In the life of every organization it is bound to go through different stages/series of transformation: good, bad, and ugly. FUOYE since her establishment in 2011 has truly gone through different phases ranging from leadership, structural development, programs, staff and students among others.
The institution started with four (4) Faculties namely Agriculture, Engineering, Social and Management Sciences, and Sciences. The Pioneer Vice Chancellor, Professor Chinedu Nebo had to start the University with two (2) Campuses, which was tasking following the crises between the hosting communities. With his experience he was able to broker peace between both communities hosting the University Campuses. The challenges he had to contend with were enormous and it could be said that he did his best within the period he spent as the Vice chancellor before being appointed a Minister.
Following the nomination of Professor Nebo as a Minister, Professor Isaac Azusu was appointed to take over from him. He was tasked with wearing the big shoe left behind by his predecessor coupled with emerging challenges and demands. The existing programs were nearing accreditation while staff demands and agitations were brewing. Even without a Staff Union then, the staff had to protest citing Poor welfarism as a reason.
Furthermore, the task of meeting the demands from all stakeholders and infrastructures was gargantuan but the Management did her best in addressing staff demands and other needs. The increasing demands from all corners hampered expansion and growth in terms of infrastructures and programs. The University was able to manage the existing programs with a few increase in departments but maintaining the existing four faculties. However, the University was still one of the best among her contemporaries in terms of programs, infrastructures and the likes. The increasing agitations gave birth to both staff and students unionism in which his tenure was not without industrial unrest and Aluta. His appointment was cut-short with the change of government in 2016 but his impact in the University can not go without notice
Following the appointment of the current and outgoing Vice Chancellor, Professor Kayode Shoremekun it was expected that the renewed challenges and demands of all stakeholders will be met in a very short time. Many ascribed the carry over of reoccurring challenges to the non completion of tenure of previous Vice Chancellors in which the current VC was billed to end. The out-going Vice Chancellor at different instances come to blows with the Unions (Staff and Students). This was as a result of already agitated staff and students following previous experiences and hardship they had gone through. The task before him was huge and addressing all, also contributed to the various conflicts. Then, the University was severally in the news for industrial unrest, conflicts but however, even with the pressures from all corners, the University was growing among her contemporaries and competing with the older Universities. It could be said that the challenges, tasks and agitations were a blessing in disguise for the University and with the help of the Director of Administration to the VC in person of Mr. Olatubosun Odusanya ( a nomenclature that was initially contested and condemned as alien to the organogram of the University by the staff unions) peace that has eluded the university begin to reign.
With the ongoing infrastructural growth as well as increasing Faculties and departments, the University stand tall among it contemporaries and even among the older Universities. The University can now boast of more Faculties such Law, Pharmacy,Basic Medical Sciences, Management Sciences, Education.... (Undergraduate Programmes), more departments in the older Faculties, Post Graduate Programmes (PGDE, Masters, PhD), Top Up Pragrammes with different Polytechnics as well as Distance Learning Programmes. The growth and developments in terms of infrastructure, programmes and other aspects of the University (even with minimal resources from the Federal Government) by the outgoing Vice Chancellor in few years is not only commending but also worth celebrating. The recent University rankings is an attestation to this fact.
As the University is about going through transition stage with the expectation of a new Management Team coming on board, it is expected that various interest groups both within and outside the University will be interested in who the new Management Team will be. This is common in most organisations but what is paramount in the life of the young university (FUOYE) which had outgrown her age is having a good Management Team that will continue and sustain the ongoing developments.
In all, the University has the potential of becoming the best in Nigeria and one of the best globally if the incoming leadership emerges from free, fair and unbias due Process.
All stakeholders needs to shun and frown at nepotism, Pull Him Down syndrome, fake and defamatory statements that is ravaging the University. Individuals or groups indulging in such are not helping but destroying the image of the University thereby destroying themselves in the end.
In every sane community such opposition, allegations or petitions are not unanimous, this will credence to it and it will thus receive required attention even if there is no truth in it. But trying to present 100% truth in the dark and sending devisionary messages to the public will not help but damage the course.
Progress is never present in the absence of peace. If we must seek equity and justice, we must be careful not to oppress the oppressor in the process otherwise we will be guilty of same crime.
We urge the faceless group to be open and present verifiable facts and not try to cause suspicion and stigmatization in the University. Or probably maybe their antics is to distract the sane members from the right thing while chase shadows.
We need to be unbiased in our criticism and shun act that may debar the progress of the institution. The coast is clear for us to achieve more than we plan or can imagine if we stand as one and move in unity
Signed
Isaac Oluwaloseyi Babalola
Sec, FUOYE Progessives
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