The former Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Prof. Kayode Soremekun, has described the late Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal University, Otuoke, Prof. Tunde Samuel, as an achiever, a diligent and an inspiring administrator with a Midas touch.
Soremekun, who was FUOYE VC when the late Samuel was the chairman of the Governing Council, recalled that the achievements recorded by his administration, which had made FUOYE the best among its contemporaries, were inspired and supported by the late Governing Council chairman.
He said the university community owed Samuel the growth and development associated with FUOYE today.
Soremekun, in a condolence message, commiserated with the Governing Council, the workers and students of the Federal University, Otuoke, over the loss, lamenting that the university would miss him, especially his determination to replicate his success story that made FUOYE cross the bar.
He said the deceased was a consummate democrat, who brought this quality to bear during council meetings by ensuring that matters were discussed and contributed to by all Council members before decisions were reached through voting and occasionally by consensus.
Soremekun said the late Council chairman was a standard in humility, transparency, accountability and a firm believer in results, who was not given to celebrating efforts.
“He was always saying that efforts that did not lead to results were not enough and therefore could not be celebrated.”
Soremekun described the late chairman as a nationalist and an ambassador to the Federal Government, who was ready to serve in any part of the country, at any given capacity and at whatever time, no matter how odd the time was or how inconvenient it was to him.
The former VC prayed that the Almighty God should stand by the family, the Governing Council of the Federal University, Otuoke and the university community and give them the fortitude to bear the loss.