FUOYE Alumni Call for Calm as VC Returns from Leave Amid Controversy

Temitope Arogundade, president of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) alumni association, has urged staff and students to maintain peace as Vice-Chancellor Abayomi Fasina resumes office on October 14 after a six-month academic leave.

The leave, originally requested for 11 months for research purposes, was approved for six months by the university’s governing council. Fasina’s initial 11-month leave was expected to coincide with the end of his five-year tenure in February 2026.

Last year, Fasina faced allegations of sexual harassment and victimisation from Folashade Adebayo, a senior lecturer. The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) claimed the VC had made unwelcome advances towards the lecturer and removed her from office after she rejected them.

A university council investigation later cleared Fasina of all allegations. The university spokesperson, Foluso Ogunmodede, had earlier clarified that Fasina’s leave was unrelated to the sexual harassment claims. During his absence, Olubunmi Shittu served as acting VC.

Speaking on Saturday, Arogundade called on all stakeholders to prioritise peace and preserve the university’s image. He highlighted Fasina’s contributions to FUOYE’s development, including significant ICT upgrades, enhanced internet bandwidth, campus-wide fibre connectivity, and improved rankings in Webometrics from 76th to 17th within two years.

“The university has also excelled in sports, ranking among the top institutions in Nigeria and Africa, while fostering community development through scholarships, land donations, and partnerships,” he said. “Professor Fasina has helped reposition FUOYE as one of the fastest-growing and most vibrant universities in the country.”

Arogundade added that management should ensure a smooth transition when Fasina’s tenure ends in February 2026.