By Otitoju Femi
The Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) on Tuesday, January 7, 2026, held a special New Year prayer programme titled “Let There Be Light”, as part of activities to usher the university community into the new year. The event took place at the new 1,000 seater auditorium located at Phase II of the institution.
The programme featured intense praise and worship, prayers of thanksgiving and forgiveness, intercessions for the university and the nation, as well as a charge to members of the university community to embrace discipline, productivity, and purposeful use of available resources.
Delivering the main message, the minister of the programme, Prof. Babatunde Omotosho, spoke on the theme “Let There Be Light”, drawing his exhortation from Genesis chapter 1, verses 1 to 3. According to him, light is fundamental to life, leadership, productivity, and progress.
“One thing I have noted in life is that light is very important,” Prof. Omotosho said. “In Genesis 1:1–2, the heavens and the earth had been created, but they were full of darkness and void. When there is no light in a place, even if you bring the best leader there, he will not function. God did fantastic works because there was light.”
He explained that leadership failure is often a product of an unhealthy environment, noting that darkness cripples effectiveness and progress. “When a leader finds it difficult to work, look at the environment and you will discover that there is no light,” he added.
Prof. Omotosho further described darkness as a breeding ground for evil. “Nobody likes darkness because you cannot do anything meaningful in darkness. It is in darkness that people cheat others. Evil thrives in darkness. When you operate in a dark world, nothing positive can be achieved,” he said.
He went on to outline five key attributes of light. First, he described light as a symbol of God’s presence. “Where the presence of God is, there will be joy, happiness, and liberty,” he stated.
Secondly, he noted that light dispels darkness and evil. “Where there is light, darkness automatically vanishes. There will be no room for laziness or wickedness because everything will be laid open,” he explained.
Thirdly, Prof. Omotosho said light brings order and direction. “Immediately light came, darkness had to give way. When there is light, people will not need to be forced to do the right thing,” he said.
Fourthly, he emphasized that light enhances productivity. “God worked for six days, and till today we are still enjoying the results. Where there is light, people will work and there will be tangible outcomes,” he noted.
Fifthly, he stated that God’s light reveals what needs to be changed. “When there is light, you can see what is wrong and make it right,” he added.
Citing Isaiah 60, Prof. Omotosho charged the university community to rise and shine, stressing that divine resources must not be wasted. “God is not bringing His light for people to waste it. The school management cannot put on the generator when there is nobody to use the power. You must utilize the light. God is calling us to discipline and productivity. When God brings resources, He expects us to use them,” he said.
Charging the audience further, he asked, “What are you going to do with the light in the year 2026? God is calling you to work with the light and resources available to you. Do not waste His resources. It is not that we do not have light; what we need is a bigger transformer. There are strange forces frustrating the sustainability of the light.”
In his goodwill message, the Vice-Chancellor of FUOYE, Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina, expressed gratitude to God for the success of the programme and the privilege of witnessing the new year.
“I want to thank God for making today possible. I wonder why people do not like to be in the presence of the Lord,” he said. “I also want to thank Prof. Omotosho for the powerful message delivered, and I advise everyone to make positive changes and impact the lives of others.”
Prof. Fasina urged members of the university community to cultivate gratitude, noting that life itself is a gift. “Many people wanted to see the year 2026 but they are no more. You must learn to appreciate God so that you can receive more. Your life is not your own; you are not better than those who slept and did not wake up,” he said.
He lamented the underutilization of divine opportunities, stating, “We have light and we are wasting it. God has committed a lot into our hands, yet we do not know how to use them.”
Reflecting on his tenure, the Vice-Chancellor expressed appreciation to individuals he described as “destiny helpers” and acknowledged God’s faithfulness in the growth of the institution. “I prayed that whoever becomes Vice-Chancellor, including principal officers, and directors, should come from this university, and God answered that prayer,” he said.
He highlighted key achievements recorded under his administration, including the expansion of the university to eighteen faculties, increased student enrollment, and improved internally generated revenue (IGR).
Prof. Fasina also called for collective support for the Vice-Chancellor-designate, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole. “God has produced a very good successor for FUOYE. Leadership helped me, but God sustained me. It was the mercy of God all through. I pray that God will grant the Vice-Chancellor-designate wisdom and guidance. With continuity, FUOYE will continue to move forward,” he said.
The prayer session included supplications for the enthronement of God in FUOYE, the destruction of negative utterances and evil counsels affecting the campus, and prayers for the university’s leadership, from council members to management, deans, and directors. Prayers were also offered for Nigeria and its leaders, seeking mercy, forgiveness, healing, and divine guidance for the nation.
Notable dignitaries at the event included the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Tajudeen Opoola; Deputy Vice-Chancellor (SPRIL) and Vice-Chancellor-designate, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole; the Registrar, Mr. Mufutau Ibrahim; the Bursar, Dr. (Mrs.) Bolatito Debo-Ajaguna; the University Librarian, Dr. Olabide Olajide; as well as deans, directors, staff, and students of the university.
