FUOYE on The Path of Academic Excellence

Federal University of Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Ekiti State, is one of the universities established by Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011 to promote the frontiers of knowledge in Nigeria. University education is critical for advancing knowledge and providing solutions to critical problems affecting national development.

Prior to the appointment of Prof. Kayode Soremekun, FUOYE was facing myriads of challenges in planning and administration. Effective educational planning is key for attaining quality and standard in university education.

Prof. Soremekun appointment as Vice Chancellor of

FUOYE led to his exit from University of Lagos, not an unceremonious exit as purported by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Akure chapter. His appointment as a professor of Political Science in University of Lagos is still in good standing. He has taught political science in Obafemi Awolowo University, University of Lagos, Covenant University and National Open University of Nigeria.

The exit of professors when appointed vice chancellors in another university has been a culture in the education system. Therefore, no amount of resistance will deter him from carrying out development programme in Fuoye. Prof. Soremekun brings his wealth of experience in university education management from Unilag to bear in Fuoye. In a short while, his team consisting of Mr. Olatunbosun Odunsanya, Director of Administration, Office of the Vice-Chancellor, Mr. Ikechukwu Areh, Director of Procurement Office of the Vice-Chancellor, Mrs Olayinka Adeniran-Ajayi, Acting Registrar and other principal officers has worked assiduously to place Fuoye on path of academic excellence.

Prof. Soremekun strategic planning has led to the establishment of commercial ventures, endowment fund and other alternative sources of fund generation for the university. He places priority in staff welfare, promotion and reward for hard work. Both academic staff and non-academic staff are benefiting immensely from his compensatory style to hard work. He is positioning Fuoye to greatness in research, teaching and consulting. He is focused on making Fuoye a leading citadel for commercial research in Nigeria that would be committed in helping private companies, public companies and multinational companies address localized industrial problems affecting their productivity. Achieving all of these strides did not come without resistance, conflict and disagreement by concerned unions, persons and groups.

Management scientist affirms that organizational change driven by change in management is bound to be resisted by employees.

This is the case of Prof. Soremekun experience in Fuoye. But in all, he has gained victory and success over all trials of litigation, petitions and accusations leveled against him and the university management. He is striving to ensure continuity in the succession planning and development programme of the university.

More importantly, long term succession planning and development is critical to attainment of long-term goal of building Fuoye to be a commercial research hub for private companies, public companies and multinational companies in Nigeria.

––Pedro Ukokobili, Lagos.