From Kehind Akinpelu, Ilorin
Deans of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti,; Ekiti State, and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) have expressed support for President Bola Tinubu’s nomination of Prof Abayomi Sunday Fasina, to the Senate for confirmation as a non-career ambassador/high commissioner-designate.
In an interview with journalists, they stated that Fasina, during his tenue as FOUYE’s Vice-Chancellor accelerated the then young university to a global visibility.
The respondents are:Dean, Computer, Information Engineering, Dr Dayo Sobowale; Dean, Faculty of Law, Dr Adeola Kehinde; Dean, Students Affairs, Prof Tope Babalola and Head of Administration, NANS, Comrade Taiwo Owolewa.
Sobowale said: “The President (Tinubu) does not do things without readings and without adequate research. We knew the nomination was coming because of the type of person Prof Fasina is. I have worked under him for years. I have seen him transform FOUYE from nowhere than it was to now here because the university is now placed on the global map. We even have more students than some first generation universities, it is under his administration as a VC. So when we heard of the nomination, we said it was timely. He worked hard for five years in the university and getting this nomination is not surprising to us.”
Kehinde said: ‘I worked closely with him as Dean of the Faculty of Law. Looking at his antecedents as former VC of FOUYE, he did exceptionally well. He performed excellently well and took the university to that enviable height that it is today. FOUYE can not be compared with its contemporaries now. He took FOUYE to another height entirely which is very glorious. That is an achievement for him.
Babalola said: Prof Fasina embodies advancement of education, not only in FOUYE but in Nigeria generally. As a matter of fact many of the calls that I have received since the announcement of his nomination are more from NANS national body, students union leaders of FOUYE. All their comments centred on the trust that Prof Fasina’s appointment will definitely attract benefits to Nigerian students and the entire education sector based on his track record. I worked closely with him as Head of Department.
Owolewa said: “FUOYE is one of the fastest growing universities in Sub-Saharan Africa then ably led by him. He sharpened the university system to the extent that it is now competing with other universities that have been in ages. That is the work of Fasina.
“We have the confidence that if he is given the opportunity, he is going to perform better in an advanced country. Nigerian students will benefit from his appointment because he is a man that wants to see us growing.
“During his tenure as Vice-Chancellor of FOUYE. He is going to do more as an ambassador. He is going to open more opportunities for students and Nigeria.”
