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By Adewale Sanyaolu
Senior academics at the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FOUYE) and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) have expressed confidence that the nomination of the university’s immediate past Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina, as a non-career ambassador will boost Nigeria’s international image and deepen educational collaborations with other countries.
President Bola Tinubu recently nominated Fasina as a non-career ambassador/high commissioner-designate, with his appointment awaiting Senate confirmation.
Speaking with journalists on Sunday, the university dons and student leaders described Fasina as an accomplished administrator with extensive international networks, proven leadership credentials and the intellectual capacity to effectively project Nigeria’s interests abroad.
They said his diplomatic experience would not only enhance bilateral relations but also attract partnerships capable of advancing Nigeria’s education sector through international collaborations, research linkages and institutional exchanges.
In separate interviews, the Dean of the Faculty of Computer and Information Engineering, Dr. Dayo Sobowale; Dean of the Faculty of Law, Dr. Adeola Kehinde; Dean of Student Affairs, Prof. Tope Babalola; and NANS Head of Administration, Mr. Taiwo Owolewa maintained that Fashina remained by all standards an astute administrator of international repute.
Sobowale described Fasina as an innovative leader whose strength lies in building strategic partnerships and delivering measurable results.
“He will represent Nigeria exceptionally well. I worked closely with him and understood his capacity. Within a short period, Nigerians will begin to feel the impact of his appointment because he is highly innovative and always seeks opportunities that benefit the country,” he said.
According to him, Fasina consistently encouraged members of his team to “think without the box,” a philosophy that drove innovation throughout his tenure as Vice-Chancellor.
“He always looked beyond conventional approaches. If another institution had a successful model, he would send staff to understudy it, adapt the best practices and implement them at FOUYE. That culture of innovation remains part of the university today,” Sobowale added.
He noted that one of Fasina’s major achievements was strengthening the university’s financial base through strategic collaborations and partnerships.
“He increased the university’s financial strength from about N2 billion to N12 billion. He also established the Directorate of Linkages and Advancement, which became the platform for attracting grants and forging international partnerships. The structure he created remains functional even after his exit.
“With his vast international exposure and network, I have no doubt he will attract more investments, partnerships and opportunities that will benefit both Nigeria and Nigerians,” he said.
Also speaking, Kehinde said Fasina’s diplomatic appointment would have a positive impact on Nigeria’s education sector, judging by his impressive record at FOUYE.
“Looking at his antecedents as Vice-Chancellor, he performed exceptionally well. He recorded remarkable achievements in infrastructure development, human capacity building and institutional growth.
“I believe he will work even harder in his new role because he will want to justify the confidence reposed in him by President Tinubu,” he said.
Kehinde added that Fasina was instrumental in forging collaborations between FOUYE and several universities across the world during his tenure.
“He established numerous international partnerships that are still active today. As an ambassador, he will be in a better position to facilitate stronger collaborations between Nigerian universities and institutions in his country of posting, thereby creating more opportunities for research, academic exchange and institutional development,” he added.
Also speaking, Dean of Student Affairs, Prof. Tope Babalola, said Fasina’s nomination was a testament to his outstanding contributions to higher education and his capacity to deliver on any national assignment.
“ Fasina embodies the advancement of education, not only in FOUYE but in Nigeria generally. As a matter of fact, many of the calls I have received since the announcement of his nomination have come from the national leadership of NANS and student union leaders in FOUYE.
“All their comments centred on the belief that Fasina’s appointment will definitely attract immense benefits to Nigerian students and the entire education sector, based on his proven track record. I worked closely with him as Head of Department and can attest to his exceptional leadership qualities,” Babalola said.
Similarly, NANS Head of Administration, Mr. Taiwo Owolewa, described Fasina as the architect of FOUYE’s rapid transformation into one of the fastest-growing universities in Sub-Saharan Africa.
“FOUYE is one of the fastest-growing universities in Sub-Saharan Africa, and Fasina provided the leadership that made that possible.
He repositioned the university to the extent that it is now competing favourably with institutions that have existed for decades. That is the hallmark of his leadership.
“We are confident that if he is given the opportunity, he will perform even better in his diplomatic assignment. Nigerian students will benefit immensely from his appointment because he is passionate about seeing young people grow and succeed.
“During his tenure as Vice-Chancellor, he created numerous opportunities for students. As an ambassador, he will do even more by opening greater opportunities for Nigerian students and advancing the interests of the country,” Owolewa said.
