The Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) is set to be transformed into a world class academic environment with stunning innovation capabilities under Kayode Soremekun, a distinguished professor of political science, as it signs a Memorandum of Understanding with Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University, Alabama, in the United States of America.
Soremekun’s appointment as the Vice Chancellor of the FUOYE was received with a mixture of hope and dread among staff of the young institution. The university, which was among six established by the Federal Government in January 2011, has had two previous Vice Chancellors; yet its development falls short of its potentials.
Like some of its peers, FUOYE was a demoralising conclave of abandoned projects and temporary structures. Aptly, Soremekun termed it ‘half campus, half forest’ when he assumed office. But he also described this scenario as an opportunity to create a world class institution that would fit the vision of the founding fathers and burnish the reputation of Ekiti as the ‘home of education.’
In addition to being a veteran journalist and public commentator (the immediate past chairman of the Editorial Board of BusinessDay), the professor of Political Science has held senior academic and administrative positions at the Obafemi Awolowo University, the University of Lagos, the Covenant University and the National Open University of Nigeria.
The challenges before the new Vice Chancellor are clear: rally the people of Ekiti behind the federal institution, provide infrastructure that matches the best in the country, create world class academic programmes and attract the best hands to help run it.
Soremekun has embraced this challenge with gusto, declaring that it was the goal of every staff of the FUOYE to provide the quality manpower that an emerging economy such as Nigeria needs. On assumption of duty, he had been met with a load of staff demands – both professional and personal. Saying he was gratified by the enthusiasm on display, he assured all that he was going to make use of the resources available for the benefits of all.
“I will be fair to all and I need your maximum cooperation to achieve whatever we set to achieve,” he said. “I am aware of the high expectations and with your support; we are going to get to the Promised Land in quick time. I thank you all.”
The financial needs of the institution far outstrip the grant it receives from the federal government. This realisation is, without doubt, the reason why Soremekun has focused on widening the revenue stream of the institution. A firm believer in matching the wealth of the gown to the needs of the town, he has nudged FUOYE towards a more robust and practical bent.
One of his first moves is the strengthening of the Centre for Entrepreneurship; the VC has approved the creation of two vital directorates: the Revenue Generating Unit and the Centre for Distance Learning.
Commenting on the vast expanse of land bequeathed to the by the University by two host communities Oye and Ikole Ekiti Soremekun said “FUOYE is a gold mine that has not been explored, especially for agricultural services,” promising to turn this potential into reality. “Apart from a real desire to diversify the revenue base of the university through agricultural mechanisation, we will also be helping to fulfil the federal government’s goal of bridging the food gap in the country.”
It was in this light this that Soremekun led a team from FUOYE to the United States last May to sign a cooperation agreement with the Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical (A and M) University. The Memorandum of Understanding includes staff and students exchange as well as research collaboration. Indeed, a young institution such as FUOYE stands to gain a lot from much older universities in several areas.
“This MOU is only the beginning in the area of partnership for FUOYE,” says Soremekun, who has enjoyed a long professional relationship with several universities in the US, Canada and the UK.
