By Andrew Joseph
Federal University Oye Ekiti (FUOYE), one of the nine universities founded by former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in 2011, could be said to be fortunate to have always had extremely great, committed and visionary Vice-Chancellors (VCs) since inception.
From the pioneer VC, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, a former Minister of Power, to Prof. Isaac Azuzu and Prof. Kayode Soremekun to the current VC, Prof Sunday Abayomi Fasina, the 14-year-old Ivory Tower has evidently grown to become one of the top Nigerian universities admired by many for its academic excellence, high standards, innovative initiatives and accelerated growth, which appeared to be more pronounced under Fasina.
The recent appointment of Professor Joshua Olalekan Ogunwole, has attracted commendations from within and outside the university community with many individuals and groups describing his emergence through the transparent, thorough and rigorous selection process supervised by FUOYE Pro-Chancellor/Chairman Governing Council, a legal luminary and erstwhile Senate Leader, Distinguished Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, SAN, as a welcome development.
It is believed that Professor Ogunwole with his wealth of experience as an erudite scholar, astute professor and consummate administrator, will continue the development momentum established by Fasina, the outgoing VC, who worked tirelessly to fast-track FUOYE’s growth, such that today it is far ahead of its peers, competing favourably with older institutions and even beating some first-generation universities in several local and international ratings and rankings.
Observers are of the conviction that Ogunwole, the FUOYE VC designate, currently serving as DVC Partnerships, Research, Innovation and Linkages, will consolidate Fasina’s laudable feats and move the institution to greater heights. Ogunwole will officially take over on February 11, 2026 from Fasina, the man widely believed to have remarkably turned around the fortunes of FUOYE.
At the press briefing held in Abuja to announce Prof Ogunwole as FUOYE 5th VC, the Pro-Chancellor, Ndoma-Egba, explained that the process that produced the renowned professor of soil ecosystem, was fully digitalised and no room was given for discretion based on the working document adopted by the Governing Council for the entire exercise.
According to the Governing Council Chairman, “The exercise that has resulted in the appointment, was the first fully digitalized online exercise in the Nigerian University system.
“The process was fully digitalised. The applications were launched online, and the assessments were done by the system. However, to ensure transparency and accuracy, we still carried out a manual review. For instance, if the system showed that an applicant had two fellowships, we verified manually to confirm the claim.
“We started the process with an announcement in February 2025 to commence the succession programme for a new Vice-Chancellor. By law, we are required to advertise the position in major newspapers for six weeks, and that was strictly followed.
“Every line of the advertisement was debated and approved by the council before publication. At the end of the six weeks, we received 64 online applications.
“When we had the final six names, we immediately contacted the Department of State Services (DSS) in Ekiti for the screening of the shortlisted candidates. After a very thorough exercise, the Council approved the most suitable and qualified candidate.
“We emerged from the process with Professor Ogunwole Joshua Olalekan as the fifth Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti.”
The Council Chair noted that “The process left little or no room for discretion. And I want to say with all confidence that if you give out the template we adopted to any person in the street to conduct the exercise, and the person applied the template strictly, the result will be the same. So, there was no allowance for discretion from what we set out to do. Therefore, the issue of preferred candidate was not there, because the scores were objective. The online systems were well sorted out and we also did the manual verification.”
The Coalition of Civil Society Groups (CCSG) hailed the appointment of Ogunwole as the 5th VC of FUOYE, describing it as “a right step in the right direction.”
In a statement by Ambassador Ayobami Olarewajuto, the CCSG noted that Professor Ogunwole’s emergence has brought an end to the needless uproar and hullabaloo by some persons who were bent on stopping the selection process and pulling down FUOYE, the 4th most sought-after university among the over 270 universities in the country.
According to the group in a report published by Thisday, “The transparent and credible process that led to his (Ogunwole’s) appointment, which stands as one of the fairest processes in the selection of a Vice Chancellor in the Nigerian University system is a testament to the integrity and commitment of the Governing Council under the leadership of Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba OFR, CON, SAN, whose doggedness, vision, and transparent leadership have restored confidence in the university’s administration.
The CCSG further stressed that “the tension and controversies surrounding the succession of the outgoing Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina, were primarily fueled by vested interests.” It lauded “the fair and merit-driven appointment of Prof. Ogunwole a former Vice Chancellor of Bowen University Iwo, Osun State,” describing him as “a man with a proven track record of excellence.”
The coalition equally extended commendation to the Visitor of the University, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, “for upholding fairness, transparency, and due process in the selection exercise. It likewise applauded the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa “for his supportive role in ensuring that the process adhered to the highest standards of integrity.”
The group was quoted as saying: “We commend President Tinubu for allowing merit to triumph over political considerations. We equally salute the Governing Council for its exemplary leadership. The emergence of Prof. Ogunwole marks a new dawn of stability, academic excellence, and renewed hope for FUOYE.”
Members of the CCSG congratulated Prof. Ogunwole on his well-deserved appointment, expressing optimism that his extensive experience, academic prowess, and leadership skill will further establish FUOYE as a leading centre of academic and research excellence in Nigeria.
The CCSG implored all stakeholders, including staff, students, and host communities to offer the new VC their full support and cooperation as they work together to drive the institution forward. It also advised the University staff who are conniving with outsiders to tarnish the institution’s image, to have a rethink and desist forthwith from such act of sabotage and breach of trust.
The coalition warned that “Any staff found involved in such malicious campaigns will be exposed in due course, along with the external individuals and bodies they are colluding with. The coalition has details of the nefarious activities of their syndicates. They should focus on their primary assignments and join hands with the Council Chairman, the current Vice Chancellor, and the next Vice Chancellor to keep on raising the bar of development in Federal University Oye-Ekiti. FUOYE has emerged as the best among its peers established the same year in all aspects. We will not tolerate any malicious attempts to tarnish its hard-earned reputation.”
The FUOYE Alumni Association has sent out a message of felicitations to Professor Ogunwole, the newly appointed VC, describing his appointment as “a defining moment that promises renewed academic vibrancy, strengthened administration, and deeper global engagement for the institution.”
In a statement by its National President, Temitope Arogundade, published in the Nation newspaper, the association noted that the appointment of the professor of soil ecosystem is widely regarded as “a testament to his scholarly pedigree, transformational leadership style, and purposeful vision for higher education development in Nigeria.”
The statement further added that “The FUOYE students, staff, alumni, development partners, and stakeholders have welcomed the news with an atmosphere of hope and collective aspiration.
“The Alumni Association of this great University joyfully celebrates the selection of Professor Joshua Olalekan Ogunwole as the 5th Substantive Vice-Chancellor of FUOYE. His outstanding academic journey, his administrative maturity, and his commitment to value-driven leadership resonate deeply with our aspirations for a university that stands tall in Nigeria and on the global stage.”
The association emphasised that “With FUOYE’s rising student population, widening research footprint, and expanding national relevance, the role of the vice-chancellor at this moment in history demands strategic foresight, partnership cultivation, alumni engagement, and institutional strengthening; areas the association believes Professor Ogunwole is well-positioned to lead effectively.” It reaffirmed “its readiness to collaborate closely with the new administration in areas such as alumni capacity mobilisation, professional mentorship for students, international academic linkages, resource development, research support, graduate employability initiatives, infrastructural expansion, and corporate relations.”
The statement further indicated that “The alumni association of FUOYE remains a strong and growing force with presence in every sector of the economy at home and abroad. We stand ready to work hand-in-hand with the vice chancellor-elect to broaden the university’s opportunities, raise its impact, and strengthen pathways that connect our students to the world. We believe that the future of FUOYE is a shared responsibility.” It urged “all stakeholders, staff, students, alumni, government partners, and community leaders to unite behind the new vice chancellor to build an era of shared development and progressive achievement.”
Members of FUOYE’s Directorate of Corporate Services headed by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the institution, Mr. Foluso Ogunmodede, have also extended their heartfelt congratulations to the VC designate, Professor Ogunwole.
Their congratulatory message posted on FUOYE’s website, reads: “The Directorate of Corporate Services of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) under the leadership of Mr. Foluso Ogunmodede, the university Public Relations Officer, joyfully extends its warmest congratulations to Professor Joshua Olalekan Ogunwole on his well-deserved appointment as the Fifth Substantive Vice-Chancellor of our great institution.
“This appointment is a testament to your outstanding academic excellence, visionary leadership, and unwavering dedication to the advancement of higher education in Nigeria.
“Your wealth of experience and proven track-record of integrity, innovation, and commitment to institutional growth inspire confidence in your capacity to lead FUOYE into a new era of excellence.
“As you assume this noble responsibility, we in the Directorate of Corporate Services pledge our utmost cooperation and support in actualizing your vision for the University.
“We are confident that under your dynamic leadership, FUOYE will flourish as a centre of academic distinction, research innovation, and societal impact.
“Once again, congratulations, Professor Ogunwole.”
Andrew Joseph writes from Abuja