…as Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ogunwole tasks matriculants on developing ICT skills to be relevant in today’s digital world
By Wole Balogun, Lagos
Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) achieved another milestone on Thursday, June 4, 2026, when it successfully carried out its maiden edition of matriculation ceremony of newly admitted students for the Institute of Distance Learning, 2025/2026 academic session. The historic and significant event occurred on the main campus of University in Oye-Ekiti and was simultaneously replicated in three other liaison offices of the institute in Lagos, Abuja and Oyo states respectively. While students in Abuja assembled at Plot 31416, Kurape Road, Karshi Abuja; those in Oyo assembled at the Adeseun Ogundoyin Polytechnic, Ibarapa East Local Government Secretariat Road, Eruwa, and those in Ogun and Lagos states assembled at 65A Abba Johnson Street Off Adeniyi Jones (Akora Villa Estate by Zenith Bank) Ikeja, Lagos.
Lagos liaison office with Dr. Babalola, Engr. Dare Ojo and Dr. Wole Balogun and students
The occasion was witnessed officially by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) represented by the Ekiti State Coordinator, Mr. Isola Ganiu Babaita .
Students who showed up for the matriculation ceremony in other centres apart from the main campus joined the ceremony virtually and were kitted in their colourful FUOYE matriculation ceremony gowns. They had their faces brightened with broad smiles of fulfillment that they were surely embarking on a journey that guarantees greatness in the nearest future. The students comprise young working adults, staff members of corporate organizations as well as teachers in both private and public schools who desire university education to boost their curriculum vitae.
FUOYE main campus Matriculation ceremony with the Vice-Chancellor and other principal officers and the students
Gracing the august occasion were the Vice-Chancellor of the University Professor Joshua Olalekan Ogunwole, accompanied by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Strategic Partnerships, Research, Innovation, and Linkages, (SPRIL), Prof. Afolabi Babatunde, the University Registrar, Mr. Mufutau Ibrahim who administered the university oaths, Director of the Centre, Dr. Omolade Adeleke, Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and FUOYE Director of Public Affairs and Communication, Dr. Sunday Saanu. Others were Deputy Registrar and Secretary of Distance Learning Centre, Dr. Ayo Dairo Fatunase; representative of the Bursar, Mr. Ebenezer Ogunjemsin; and Academic Affairs Officer; Mrs. Blessing Eyiolorunpe.
Oyo Centre with principal officers of the polythenic and students
Charging newly admitted students to uphold the institution’s values as worthy ambassadors of the lvory Tower, the VC said: “university education extends beyond academic excellence to the cultivation of sound character. “You are coming into FUOYE to become good ambassadors of this institution who will represent its image positively anywhere in the world.
“To earn a university degree, a student must be found worthy in both learning and character. If anyone is awarded our certificate and is later found wanting, such a certificate can be withdrawn.” The Vice-Chancellor stressed that the university’s mission is not only to impact knowledge but also to nurture intellectually curious, resilient, and morally upright graduates
Abuja liaison office
“The certificate we award is a testament to your character as much as it is to your academic achievement. Your conduct should reflect positively on the university and make people ask where you received your education,” he added. Encouraging the matriculating students to embrace the opportunities before them, Prof. Ogunwole noted that the distance learning programme was designed to challenge, inspire, and prepare them for future success
Abuja liaison office
“The years ahead will require perseverance, creativity, and a commitment to excellence. Make the most of every opportunity to learn from your instructors and e-tutors, collaborate with your peers, and take advantage of the diverse learning experiences available to you,” he said.
“Let me state clearly that FUOYE, under my administration, has zero tolerance for student extortion, sexual harassment, sex-for-marks practices, and all forms of indiscipline. I urge you to avoid any form of misconduct and speak up whenever you witness wrongdoing,”
Oath taking by the matriculating students@ Adeseun Ogundoyin Polytechnic, Eruwa Centre
Urging the matriculate on the need to be self-reliant and deploy education for self development, Prof. Ogunwole said: “ No individual has a monopoly on knowledge. If a lecturer admits not knowing the answer to a question, respect such honesty. It should motivate you to conduct further research because tomorrow that same lecturer may learn from you,” he said.
He also urged them to equip themselves with new media skills which would make them relevant and better prepared for the new generation, saying: “We are in an age driven by technology. You must be comfortable using computer systems and be enthusiastic about the technologies that support your learning”.
Director of the institute, Associate Professor Omolade Adeleke, who revealed that admission into the programme the institute offers currently (Business Administration) is still in progress, said:”
The new students should expect a programme that will offer them the best quality education they can ever think of in the world. The university has made available state-of-the-art facilities to run the programme. These facilities can be compared to what the best universities across the globe are using for their open and distance learning education, in terms of our facilitators and e-tutors, quality lecturers have been deployed to handle all the courses and make sure the students get the best education. Apart from the education aspect, some other activities that will make the students enjoy inclusivity as part of the university community has been designed with their curriculum. In a nutshell, the students should expect nothing less than the best education that any programme like this can offer”, he assured.
Speaking further on the programmes offered by the institute, he added that :
“By God’s grace, by next academic session, we are preparing to add five more courses namely; Accounting, computer science, criminology and security studies, public administration and mass communication. All these programmes are the most subscribed courses in the university. Consequently, in terms of the IGR to the university, next academic session when we have these courses running it will signify a remarkable increase in the IGR of the university as we will be looking forward to have more than 500 students.
“ In terms geographical coverage, we hope to expand to more counties and more states within Nigeria. What l can tell you confidently is that the FUOYE distance learning institute will take the whole country by storm and blaze the trail by becoming the fastest growing distance learning programme in the country in a very shortest period.”
He therefore urged interested members of the public to log on to : www.dli@fuoye.edu.ng, to register or contact various liaison offices on 08137107811,
08166549431, (Lagos & Ogun offices),
0803 354 0505 (Oyo office),
0816 301 9272 (Abuja office), and
08067167745 (Ekiti State office) for further enquiries. The distance learning admission does not require utme but O level results for instant admission into 100L, OND, JUPEB & NCE for 200L, and HND for 300L admission respectively. The institute ensures that admitted students also partake in JAMB regularization exercise for recognition by the National Youth Service Corps and JAMB.
