Under the stewardship of Sunday Fasina, the outgoing vice-chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), the institution witnessed rapid development, marked by the execution of over 160 infrastructure projects and a 300 percent surge in internally generated revenue.
Fasina made this known on Wednesday, during the public presentation of his book, ‘Holding the Rudder: My Years Steering FUOYE’, when he explained that between 2021 and 2026, his administration expanded the university’s academic footprint, executed over 160 infrastructure projects, grew the university’s internally generated revenue (IGR) by 310 percent, and recorded gains in national demand and international visibility.
The former vice-chancellor said his administration pursued revenue growth through the expansion of university-owned ventures and professional services rather than fee increases.
“These included bakery operations, table water production, printing services, agricultural farms, consultancy activities, the FUOYE Business School, and the establishment of the FUOYE Microfinance Bank.
“Over 106 capital projects, according to the records, were funded through IGR during this period. Infrastructure development included a new Senate Building, the 1,000-seat Ndoma-Egba auditorium, a modern computer-based test (CBT) centre, science and professional faculty buildings, and student hostels delivered through public-private partnership (PPP) arrangements,” he said.
Besides, he said the university executed other projects during his five-year tenure, such as a 2,000-capacity student hostel situated on a 33-hectare site, named after the vice-chancellor and inaugurated by the Pro-chancellor after the book launch.
Fasina said his administration also introduced governance measures aimed at campus stability, including a 60/40 flexible school fees payment structure, a student insurance scheme, subsidised transport, electronic student union elections and the construction of a student union complex.
“Academically, FUOYE expanded from eight to 18 faculties, increased its programmes from 73 to 91, and grew its directorates from one to 19, alongside the creation of five institutes.
“The university is currently the fourth most subscribed institution in Nigeria, according to JAMB figures, and features in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings and the AD Scientific Index,” he said.
Meanwhile, Olusegun Alebiosu, managing director at First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Victor Ndoma-Egba, the Pro-chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), and other dignitaries have commended the outgoing vice-chancellor of the institution for documenting his five-year stewardship in a new book.
These eminent Nigerians who spoke at the public presentation of Fasina’s book, a chronicle of his tenure as the fourth substantive vice-chancellor of the university between 2021 and 2026, held on Wednesday in Oye-Ekiti, extolled his stewardship.
Alebiosu, who served as chief launcher at the event, described the university’s infrastructure expansion, enrolment growth and programme development as indicators of institutional progress, noting that the scale of change surpassed what he encountered during an earlier visit to the university years ago.
He recommended the book as a reference material on leadership and institutional management.
Ndoma-Egba, also congratulated the former FUOYE vice-chancellor for finding time to write, describing the book as a practical guide for current and aspiring university leaders.
He said Joshua Ogunwole, the incoming vice-chancellor, would benefit from the book.
“FUOYE is a university, but in many ways, a school of its own because what you will learn in Oye-Ekiti, especially in management, you will not learn elsewhere. I believe the peculiar experience he has had has informed this book. I have not been here for so long, but I am already writing a book. So, how much more of a man who has been here longer and steered the wheel of the university in the last five years,” Ndoma-Egba said.
Taye Ojo, the president of the FUOYE alumni association, speaking on behalf of alumni, described the author as “the architect of new FUOYE,” citing the scale of institutional transformation recorded during his tenure.
The book reviews
Yisa Yusuf, a professor of English Language at Obafemi Awolowo University, said the over 300-page book is an account of how Sunday Fasina, the fourth substantive vice-chancellor of FUOYE, navigated the treacherous waters of university administration from 2021 to 2026.
Quoting from the book, Yusuf recalled the author’s reflection: “When I assumed duty as the fourth substantive vice-chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti, I did not walk into a position, I walked into a storm.”
Yusuf explained that the metaphor effectively captured the complexity of university leadership, encompassing the challenges of navigating student agitation, staff relations, union engagement, host community expectations, governing council dynamics, and chronic funding constraints.
“One of the challenges we have as a society is the inadequate documentation of our history. In writing this book on running FOUYE as the fourth vice-chancellor, Fasina has made available to posterity a wealth of institutional memory, a remarkable landmark and an invaluable roadmap.
Indeed, the book is an invaluable resource for those who are aspiring to be vice-chancellors or those who are already holding the position, but wish to renew their insights for better service delivery. It would also be of immense value for drawing university strategic plans, especially for new or young universities,” he said.
Fasina, responding to the review, said the book was not written as a defence of office, but as a reflection on leadership under pressure.
He especially appreciated Bosede Fasina, his wife, describing her quiet strength, steadfast faith and support as central to both his leadership journey and the writing of the book.
