Ogunwole: Charting Deliberate Course Towards World-class Status for FUOYE

Professor Joshua Ogunwole, who recently assumed office as the fifth Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Oye Ekiti, shared his vision of transforming the institution into a world-class research university. He told members of the university community that, over the next five years, his administration intends to achieve a repositioned and rebranded FUOYE that rewards character, excellence, and innovation. Uchechukwu Nnaike reports

Professor Joshua Ogunwole, who assumed office in February, expressed his desire to digitalise all FUOYE operations and change its business model from a faculty-based model to a near-collegiate one that will enhance FUOYE’s lightness, agility and responsiveness across all its operations.

He announced that the governing council had approved a 25-year Strategic Plan (2026-2050), structured into five-year cycles, which would guide policy direction, governance alignment, and risk management architecture for sustained institutional growth.

He stated that his administration will pioneer the first five-year cycle from 2026-2030, such that FUOYE develops a future-ready governance architecture anchored in clear council-management role alignment, strong ethical leadership, leadership continuity, and integrated risk governance.

In the next five years, Ogunwole said his administration will focus on achieving a repositioned and rebranded FUOYE that rewards character, excellence, and innovation.

He said the quest demands addressing certain inherent challenges militating against the university’s advancement through transforming FUOYE into a ‘new age’ institution characterised by agility, lightness, responsiveness and cost efficiency: promoting contemporary teaching, learning and ‘cutting edge’ research at the highest level; and keeping funding stable and secure by pursuing endowments and local agricultural business.

As part of his administration’s covenant with FUOYE, Ogunwole said that the university’s next phase of growth requires a deliberate shift in institutional culture.

“Indiscipline must give way to accountability, excellence, and shared responsibility, with mindsets reoriented to ensure that staff possess the transformative outlook required to drive the university’s mission,” he said.

As vice-chancellor, he said his vision is to transform FUOYE into a World-class Research University (WCRU) by leveraging the exceptional talents of faculty and students.

Ogunwole said, “We will enhance institutional rankings, secure targeted research funding, and build capacity for accessing development and competitive research grants.

“Through the expansion of international networks, the cultivation of global collaborations, and the strategic positioning of our scholars for worldwide recognition, FUOYE will attain global visibility, academic excellence, and meaningful socio-economic impact.”

Ogunwole added that in pursuit of this goal, the university will implement technology-driven, experiential, and student-centred pedagogies that prioritise practice-based learning through fieldwork, academic tours, and structured exposure activities.

Within his second year in office, Ogunwole said his administration will establish a Directorate of Community Engagement and Trade Union Affairs (DICETUA) to implement all council-approved policies relating to host communities and to serve as a strategic bridge between university management and staff unions. He said that the directorate will ensure a well-structured corporate social responsibility programme that engages host and affiliated communities throughout the year, including traditional rulers, religious leaders, and other key stakeholders.

“DICETUA will proactively address the root causes of conflicts that affect university operations while fostering enduring and mutually respectful partnerships. A visıble and mutually beneficial relationship between the university and its host

communities, anchored on the active involvement of stakeholders in initiatives that improve collective well-being, will constitute a key performance outcome of this policy,” said Ogunwole.

To strengthen FUOYE’s income-generating capacity, the VC plans to implement a Local Economic Development (LED)-driven internally generated revenue strategy, building on the goodwill of host and affiliated communities.

According to him, large-scale agricultural production at Erimope-Ekiti, Ikole, and Ire-Ekiti is projected to generate additional IGR for the university, with expansion into value-chain activities to stimulate employment and local enterprise.

By the third year, he said that the FUOYE Nutraceuticals Initiative will emerge as a flagship project, translating research outputs into commercially viable products for local and international markets.

“These ventures will be institutionalised as limited liability companies registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission, thereby fostering university-community partnerships, attracting private investment, and promoting sustainable, innovation-led growth,” Ogunwole stated.

He stressed that the employment and entrepreneurial landscapes have evolved, making intentional student engagement essential for the future of FUOYE.

Ogunwole said that the institution will actively involve successful entrepreneurs and business owners in discipline-specific areas to mentor, invest in, and inspire students.

“To harness the energy and potential of FUOYE’s large student population, we will promote sporting activities through the provision of indoor sports complexes and student social centres at Oye-Ekiti and Ikole-Ekiti,” Ogunwole explained. “We will also pursue partnerships with neighbouring institutions for inter-varsity competitions, friendly matches, and exchange programmes, thereby preparing our students for local and international sporting opportunities.”

With a student population exceeding 59,000, he said that the university requires urgent, large-scale infrastructure development, adding that a comprehensive template of FUOYE building standards for hostels, lecture halls, roads, and related facilities will be presented to the council for approval to guide all capital projects.

According to Ogunwole, over the next five years, priority will be accorded to the development of modern lecture theatres accommodating 500-800 students, student hostels, staff quarters, and residences for principal officers, ensuring functional, technologically equipped, and sustainable campus infrastructure that supports academic and residential excellence.

Ogunwole added that strategic partnerships with government agencies will facilitate the construction of ring roads and water treatment facilities across the university’s campuses.

“My team and I will ensure that FUOYE embodies the defining attributes of a modern university: agility, responsiveness, efficiency, and adaptability. Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence will underpin research, teaching, entrepreneurship, examinations and governance across the institution,” the VC said.

He added that ICT and AI systems will be recalibrated to support registry and bursary operations, promoting low-paper, technology-driven processes.

“Our guiding principles will be simple and transparent decision-making, coupled with timely and effective infrastructure responses. We will strengthen accountability among staff and students while actively engaging the university community through multi-stage awareness campaigns and strategic planning workshops. These efforts will ensure shared ownership of FUOYE’s vision and collective commitment to its modernisation agenda,” Ogunwole noted.

He promised that students will be placed at the centre of decision-making processes, empowered to stand up, stand out, and assume their future roles in nation-building with confidence and competence.

The vice-chancellor commended a 100-level student of the Department of Microbiology, Olayemi Ayomide Solomon, who produced a digital portrait sketch of him, saying that his work serves as a reminder that while students pursue defined courses of study, they also possess diverse entrepreneurship programmes to better accommodate both academic pursuits and individual interests.

“This administration is committed to achieving this balance and to creating space for innovation, creativity, and enterprise among FUOYE students,” he stated.

As the university gradually overcomes its teething challenges, he announced that it will fully transition to the recently inaugurated FUOYE Senate Building. He also announced the redeployment of some staff who have held sensitive offices for extended periods to other areas where their experience can continue to add value.

Professor Adebola Adewunmi Adenbigbe was appointed as Senior Technical Assistant to the Vice-Chancellor, Mrs Oyeyimika Koyejo-Fasakin, as Director, Office of the Vice-Chancellor; Mr Emmanuel Adohoje, Desk Officer for TETFund and Special Duties in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, among others.

Ogunwole pledged to serve FUOYE diligently, striving to elevate its standing and to surpass past achievements.

“Guided by God, I commit to upholding the highest standards of character, competence, courage, commitment, and integrity,” stated Ogunwole. “As vice-chancellor, I will lead with vision and determination, ensuring that FUOYE realises its full potential as a globally recognised centre of academic excellence.”

He promised that before long, FUOYE will emerge as a leading university in education, research, technology and innovation.