Nifesimi Ogungbe
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, (Academics), Prof. Babatunde Omotosho, has charged newly recruited academic staff of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), not to become a shelter for indiscipline in the discharge of their duties.
Prof. Omotosho gave the charge while delivering a paper presentation titled “Examination Conduct, Expectations and Best Behaviour” at a workshop organized by the Faculty of Social Sciences at the Deborah Atanda Memorial Hall.
Delivering his paper, Prof. Omotosho emphasized that lecturers who prioritize teaching over examinations achieve only 50 per cent effectiveness. He stressed that examinations are central to quality assurance and academic standards, urging strict compliance with university regulations on fairness, impartiality, confidentiality, transparency and accountability.
The Professor of Sociology advised members of staff to maintain punctuality, avoid phone distractions during invigilation, treat students respectfully, and shun favoritism, nepotism and inducements.
He also enjoined participants to familiarize themselves with university documents and remain accountable to their superior officers and the University
Speaking further on professional competence in examination conduct, the DVC, (Academics), noted that lecturers should understand the questions they set and ensure that such questions are fair, as student performance is often a pointer to lecturers’ performance.
“The integrity of an examination system depends on the integrity of those who administer it,” he noted.
“Students will come and go, VCs will come and go, but what you and I have built will stay.”, he added..
In a related presentation on Academic Ethics, Integrity and Personal Boundaries, the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Professor Sunday Adedini, urged the newly employed academics to make ethical conduct the foundation of their careers. He noted that academic excellence is inseparable from honesty, objectivity, fairness, responsibility and respect for intellectual contributions.
“Your qualifications may earn you a place in academia, but it is your integrity that will sustain your credibility and reputation throughout your career,” he told the participants
Professor Adedini also warned against various forms of academic misconduct, including plagiarism, data fabrication, examination malpractice, forced authorship, favouritism, sexual harassment and the misuse of emerging technologies. He emphasized the importance of maintaining professional boundaries in staff-student relationships, respecting intellectual property rights, avoiding conflicts of interest and shunning predatory journals and publishers.
According to him, “Every decision you make as an academic should be guided by ethics, because the strength of a university depends not only on knowledge creation but also on the character of those who create it.” He added that a culture of integrity protects individual reputations while strengthening the credibility and global standing of the university.
Also speaking, the former Deputy Vice Chancellor, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Prof. Shola Jeremiah Omotola, in a presentation titled “Understanding FUOYE Conditions of Service,” underscored the importance of familiarizing oneself with the university’s Conditions of Service, which carry legal backing from the Governing Council.
The professor of political science explained that the probation period serves as a period for monitoring staff conduct before confirmation of appointment, while promotion processes involve departmental, faculty and university committees before final approval by the Governing Council.
Prof. Omotola warned that “plagiarism is the academic equivalence of bank fraud” and called on staff to pursue excellence in teaching, research and service with utmost integrity.
Similarly, the pioneer Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences who doubles as the Director of the Counselling and Human Development Centre, Prof. Benjamin Omolayo, delivered a paper titled “Navigating Research and Understanding FUOYE Promotion Criteria.”
He encouraged new lecturers to develop passion for the profession and described promotion as a systematic evaluation of teaching effectiveness, research output, publications and scholarly contributions.
Dr. Michael Aleyomi, the Deputy Dean in his presentation harped on the university’s leadership structure and approved communication channels, urging the new academics to familiarise themselves with FUOYE’s governance architecture and administrative procedures. He stressed the importance of adhering strictly to established protocols, noting that every official request should pass through the appropriate chain of command, beginning with the Head of Department.
According to him, proper documentation and observance of institutional procedures are essential for accountability, efficiency and effective university administration
“Verbal approvals do not replace written approvals,” Dr. Aleyomi cautioned, while emphasising the need for staff members to properly document all official communications and requests.
Reinforcing the importance of due process within the university system, Dr. Aleyomi reminded participants that, “The fastest way to reach the Vice-Chancellor is through your HOD’s table,” emphasizing the need for academic staff to respect established reporting lines and administrative channels.
Representing the Personnel Affairs Officer, Mr. Samuel Osamoka, Mrs. Ajewole Folake, a Principal Assistant Registrar, presented a paper on “Personnel Relations, University Regulations and Staff Discipline”, in which she enjoined participants to familiarize themselves with the core principles governing the university system.
The workshop focused on examination conduct, conditions of service, promotion criteria, academic integrity and professional ethics, reinforcing FUOYE’s commitment to building a culture of discipline, professionalism and excellence among its academic workforce.
Photo credit: Toye Fisher
