…as Prof. Fasina grants 204 professorial promotions in five years
Otitoju Femi
The Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) has recorded significant institutional growth and transformation as it prepares for 10th Convocation Ceremonies, a landmark academic event that highlights the University’s achievements in academic expansion, global recognition, infrastructure development, and governance stability since its establishment.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina, disclosed this during a Pre-Convocation Press Conference held on Monday, February 2, 2026, at the University’s Council Chambers.
He described the convocation ceremonies as a defining milestone that reflects years of deliberate planning, disciplined execution, and purposeful leadership.
He said: “This convocation is not merely ceremonial.
“It is a moment of reflection, accountability, and reaffirmation of FUOYE’s commitment to excellence, innovation, and national development.”
The week-long convocation programmes will feature the award of first degrees, postgraduate diplomas, master’s and doctoral degrees, as well as the conferment of honourary awards on distinguished Nigerians.
According to the Vice-Chancellor, the ceremony also provides an opportunity for the university to present stewardship to parents, stakeholders, the Nigerian public, and the global academic community.
Over the past decades, and particularly during Professor Fasina’s five-year tenure, FUOYE has expanded from eight to eighteen faculties and introduced 84 new academic programmes.
Notable academic milestones include the establishment of a College of Medicine and the approval granted by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) to admit 50 medical students, further strengthening the university’s contribution to national manpower development in the health sector.
Within the same period, FUOYE recorded over 204 professorial promotions, a development the Vice-Chancellor described as evidence of a vibrant academic environment supported by sustained investment in staff development and research productivity.
At the 10th Convocation Ceremony, a total of 7,396 students will graduate, including 131 First Class degree holders.
The overall best graduating student, Adeniyi Maryam Adedolapo of the B.Sc. Medical Sciences (Anatomy) programme, graduated with a CGPA of 4.89, reflecting the University’s growing emphasis on academic excellence.
FUOYE’s rising profile has also attracted international recognition.
In the 2026 Times Higher Education rankings, the university ranked fourth in Nigeria, placed within the 601+ global band, and emerged 38th in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The institution also recorded notable performances in the Impact Rankings, Interdisciplinary Science Rankings, and Sub-Saharan Africa Rankings.
“These rankings are outcomes of consistent planning, accountability, and our resolve to align teaching and research with national priorities and global standards,” Professor Fasina said.
The university’s research profile has continued to gain global attention.
In the World Scientist and University Rankings, two FUOYE academics were listed among the top twenty per cent of scientists worldwide, while four others ranked within the top 30 percent.
FUOYE also secured major international research grants, including over 534,000 dollars from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, as well as research equipment valued at more than 430 million naira.
Student enrolment has also shown consistent growth. Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) statistics place FUOYE as the fourth most subscribed university in Nigeria among 303 institutions nationwide, reflecting increasing public confidence in the University.
Financially, FUOYE recorded a 310 per cent increase in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), driven by policy reforms, part-time programmes, the FUOYE Business School, and income-generating ventures such as the FUOYE Bakery.
Infrastructure development remains one of the most visible legacies of Professor Fasina’s administration.
Under the widely referenced Blue-Roof initiative, over 160 projects have been executed across the university’s campuses.
These include a modern Senate Building, the Ndoma-Egba 1,000-seater Auditorium, a Faculty of Law complex, science laboratory buildings, hostels, more than 30 classrooms, a Microfinance Bank, Freedom Park, perimeter fencing, extensive landscaping, and a state-of-the-art Computer-Based Test Centre.
The university has also recorded significant progress in ICT through the deployment of the FUOYE Integrated Digital System, improving internet access, automation, and service delivery.
In sports development, FUOYE’s football team qualified for the 2024 Africa National Games, while the university ranked first in Ekiti State, second nationally, and third in Africa in overall sports performance.
Staff and students’ welfare initiatives, including fee rebates, subsidized transportation, flexible fee payment options, improved student union facilities, and predictable academic calendars, have further strengthened campus stability.
On governance and policy innovation, Professor Fasina highlighted transparent student union elections, the One-Day Vice-Chancellor Programme, and forward-looking policies such as the Emeritus Professors Policy, Professors of Practice Initiative, Diaspora Professors Programme, and expanded partnerships with over fourteen international organizations.
Looking ahead, he revealed that the FUOYE 25-Year Strategic Plan (2025–2050) has been formally adopted by the Governing Council, providing a long-term roadmap for sustainable growth, revenue diversification, improved welfare, and enhanced global competitiveness.
Prof. Fasina said: “The future of FUOYE depends on disciplined execution, resilience, and collective responsibility.”
As the university counts down to its 10th Convocation, FUOYE’s story is increasingly defined by steady progress, rising prestige, and institutional maturity, positioning it to consolidate its achievements and contribute meaningfully to the advancement of Nigeria’s public university system.
Photo Credit: Nifesimi Ogungbe
