Omokungbe Omowunmi & Toluwanimi Bamigbola
The Vice-Chancellor Federal University Oye Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria, Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina has bagged a meritorious award of Excellence for his outstanding and visionary leadership since his assumption of office in the last three years.
The award which was bestowed on him by the university’s Gender Studies Center, was in recognition of monumental achievements recorded in less than three years in office by the amiable and hard-working Vice-Chancellor.
Specifically, the Gender Studies Center said it recognised Prof. Fasina’s input on the centre which had made a pivotal tool in the annals of the university, playing transformative roles in shaping female gender.
However, the Centre for Gender Studies gave the award during the International Women’s Day held at the Faculty of Science Auditorium on Wednesday, March 7, 2023.
Declaring the august occasion open, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina lauded the Center of Gender Studies for organizing what he described as a beautiful symposium for women in the university.
The Vice-Chancellor, who was ably represented by Deputy Vice-Chancellor Administration, Prof. Tajudeen Bolanle Opoola welcomed participants to the occasion.
Prof. Opoola, who stood in for the Vice-Chancellor said “I can boldly say that the interest of the female Gender is very paramount to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abayomi Fasina. It occupies a place in his heart, which makes him to always prioritize involvement of women in various capacities in the university simply because he has a flair and special interest in the female gender.
This is why he named an astute Prof. Sylvia Uzochukwu as the Director of FUOYE Center of Gender studies.”
Besides, Prof. Opoola said the Vice-Chancellor changed the leadership of the Directorate of Advancement formerly headed by a male Director to another female Professor, Olubukola Oyawoye with a view to making female play prominent roles in the growth of the university.
According to Prof. Opoola, a female is also the deputy Chaplain of the University. She is Mrs. Dada.
This, he said was to show that the Prof. Fasina-led administration was all-gender-inclusive with a special interest in women.
The Bursar of the university, Mrs. Adebolanle Adekemisola Debo-Ajaguna is also a woman and to crown it all, the Directorate of Works in this university, Mrs. Olaiya is also a woman, he said.
“I can go on and on but I’ll stop here,” Prof Opoola added.
He, however, thanked the center for the honour bestowed on the Vice-Chancellor, saying the award would spur the Prof. Fasina to do more.
Earlier, in her welcome remarks, the Director of the Center, Prof. Sylvia Uzochukwu appreciated the Vice-Chancellor for his support always including matters affecting the directorate as far as female Gender in the FUOYE community was concerned.
According to her, the International Women’s Day which served as a powerful reminder of the progress being made towards achieving gender equality was the climax of the honour bestowed on the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina.
She said: “Once upon a time in this country, women could not vote, Once upon a time in this country too when a woman does the same job as a man she is paid about half of the salary that a man is paid. We have come a long way.”
However, she charged women to continue to amplify the voices of unity and continue to fight and advocate for their rights wherever they find themselves in the society.
Also, she advised the women of FUOYE to commit themselves to the principles of equality, justice and empowerment for all females as they celebrated the International Women’s Day.
Delivering a lecture on Balancing the Home and Career, Prof. Bukola Oyawoye, who doubles as the Director of Advancement, outlined effective time management, setting realistic goals and establishing boundaries between work and personal life as strategies to consider in having a successful home and career life.
A Guest Lecturer, Mrs. Oyeyimika Koyejo-Fasakin, who was a former acting Registrar of the University, gave an insightful lecture on Strategies for advancing careers.
Mrs. Fasakin, who noted that there were key strategies for career advancement, described them as areas of Interest, Determination, Desiring Excellence, Developing a positive mindset, set and building the right network, amongst many others.
Meanwhile, a guest speaker at the epoch event, Prof.Cecilia Akintayo, who was a former Director of the Academic Planning Unit, was represented by Prof. Ajobiewe, delivered a paper on finding mentors for career development
In her lecture, she outlined ways in which one would position self to get mentors that would elevate one’s career.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of awards of excellence to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Abayomi Fasina and all the guest speakers for their Excellent Performance and contribution to the university and the society at large.
