By Chinedu Okafor
The Vice-Chancellor of Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Professor Joshua Olalekan Ogunwole, has charged members of the University Senate to embrace smart work, innovation and result-oriented decision-making as critical requirements for the transformation and advancement of the institution.
Professor Ogunwole gave the charge during the 84th Senate meeting of the University held on Monday, May 25, 2026, where he urged Senate members to move beyond routine academic deliberations to more strategic and solution-driven approaches in addressing issues relating to teaching, research and institutional development.
The meeting featured a short video presentation which centred on the growing importance of smart work in modern organisations and institutions.
Speaking after the presentation, the Vice-Chancellor said the message contained in the clip speaks directly to leadership, institutional growth and the culture of advancement within the university system.
He noted that organisations across the world no longer place emphasis solely on the number of years spent in service, but on competence, expertise and the ability to produce meaningful results.
According to him, years of service remain valuable in the university environment, but seniority alone should not be equated with efficiency or productivity.
Professor Ogunwole lamented that the tendency to rely heavily on years of experience without corresponding competence has continued to affect institutional development in many sectors.
“As a Senate, we are not merely custodians of academic regulations but custodians of the intellectual destiny of the university. The decisions we take here shape students, staff, faculties, departments, research culture, institutional reputation and national relevance,” he said.
The Vice-Chancellor further urged members of Senate to reflect on their individual approach to work and leadership responsibilities, stressing that smart work requires critical thinking, initiative and innovation.
Drawing lessons from the video presentation, he explained that one of the individuals assigned a task stood out because she approached the assignment with depth and intelligence rather than merely carrying out instructions.
“She did not merely work, she thought. She did not merely move, she investigated. She did not merely report, she provided useful knowledge to the matter,” he stated.
Professor Ogunwole maintained that while hard work remains important, smart work is what ultimately brings transformation and sustainable progress to institutions.
“And if we must transform FUOYE, we must work SMART,” he declared.
He added that the present administration is more interested in achieving results despite prevailing challenges and limited resources, rather than entertaining excuses for failure.
According to him, universities are sustained not by activities alone, but by accountability, innovation, timely decision-making and evidence of measurable progress. He warned that committee assignments and meetings without visible outcomes could gradually become mere ceremonial exercises.
Earlier while explaining the concept behind the video presentation, the Senior Technical Assistant to the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adebola Aderibigbe, described hard work as the foundation of progress, while smart work represents a more efficient and system-driven approach to achieving organisational goals.
Professor Aderibigbe likened smart work to an automatic transmission system in vehicles, explaining that efficiency is achieved when systems are properly calibrated to deliver results with minimal stress. He added that small initiatives taken by heads of departments, directors and administrators could significantly improve productivity and help position the university for global competitiveness.
