The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Federal University Oye Ekiti (FUOYE)

  • Phony group dupes FUOYE students

    About 140 students of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), who applied for scholarship scheme have been left in the cold. More than a year after parting with N2000 each, to acquire e-passports scheme, they could neither access the scholarship nor be refunded their money, AJALA SAMUEL AKINDELE, a 300-Level History and International Studies of FUOYE reports.

    • Firm, NGO promise ‘spurious’ scholarship
    • We are not aware, says school management

    Hopes of scholarship for over 140 students of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), may have been dashed more than a year after they staked N2,000 each to access a scholarship fund.

    The purpoted scholarship is courtesy of JK Consulting Nigeria Limited, a consulting firm that served as an intermediary to a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Fortress of Hope Foundation, which initiated the  Educational Youth Development Fund scholarship valued at N15,000 and above.

    Findings by CAMPUSLIFE revealed that in July, last year, one Mr Benjamin, representing JK Consulting firm in Lagos, encouraged students to apply for the scholarship via e-passport with the hope of getting at least N15,000 as scholarship package. Potential beneficiaries of the scheme, about 140 students, were asked to pay N2,000 for do e-passport, a prerequisite for participating in the scheme.

    Online checks revealed that Fortress of Hope Foundation  does not have a website, but a Facebook page. After a thorough check on its facebook profile, it was discovered that the foundation is not registered at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

    Further investigation showed that one Reverend K C Williams of Pastor of Christ House Church, in Oye-Ekiti, introduced the scholarship scheme to his church members and FUOYE students. Interested participants were asked to payN2,000 for e-passport as a pre-condition for becoming beneficiaries.

    Victims share experience

    However, more than a year later, students, who met the conditions and participated in the scheme, are yet to get a feedback from the organisation, or a refund of their money.

    Some of them have expressed their disappointment.

    A 300-Level History and International Studies student, Pastor Ooss Omobolaji Israel, recounted how Rev Williams introduced him to the scholarship scheme and collected N2,000 for electronic passport from 30 other students. Israel, who also doubles as the president of the university’s campus fellowship, said he later introduced the scheme to others.

    “Sometime last year, a certain man of God told me about an opportunity that was available through a certain non-governmental organisation called Fortress of Hope Foundation,” Israel began.

    He continued: “He told me they have a certain programme of giving scholarship to students in all campuses in Nigeria.

    “He (Williams) said we only needed a paltry N2,000 for e-passport, which, according to him, is big enough.  He said the NGO intends giving scholarship valued at between N15,000 upward, but we don’t need to pay for any registration or whatsoever. All we need do is pick the form and register.

    “We were told part of the things we needed to present for the registration is an e-passport. In FUOYE, we don’t use e-passport, but the cleric told us that is the condition in other campuses. So, he advised that each of us could contribute N2,000 with which he would process the e-passport and submit the forms on our behalf in Lagos, thereby saving all of us the stress of having to travel to Lagos to submit individually.”

    Israel also lamented how he used his influence as the campus fellowship president to persuade 30 other members of the fellowship to opt for the scholarship scheme.

    “What I want is that since the scholarship programme is not working, he (Williams) should simply give us the electronic passport or return our money,’’ he added.

    Another student, Emmanuel Animasahun, a 200-Level Educational Management undergraduate, narrated how he parted with N2,000 together with four other friends to get the electronic passport.

    “According to what we heard, the scheme is a Federal Government initiative that was being undertaken by an organisation. They came to FUOYE through Pastor KC Williams, so we all registered when we heard about it. The programme is for undergraduates. We were supposed to get N15,000.00 or N30,000.00 as education support from the programme. To be a beneficiary, we were asked to pay N2,000 for an e-passport, which we did; but for over a year now we have not heard anything,” he said.

    Gift Moore, a 300-Level undergraduate from the Department English and Literary Studies, narrated how she borrowed money from a friend to register for the scholarship.

    She said: “An organisation came to FUOYE sometime ago and promised us scholarship if we could provide an e-passport. That inspired my interest and I just did everything to ensure I participated. We were asked to pay N2,000 to get the passport and other things.

    “Though I was interested, I had no money. I had to approach friends, who lent me N2000. It was something I didn’t actually plan for. I just had to raise the money as the form would be closing the next day.

    “Later on I kept following the (Fortress of Hope) Foundation. I went to Pastor (KC) Williams to register as he was the one that introduced most churches into it because churches around here knew little or nothing about it.

    “We went there (Pastor KC’s church) for the registration. We were told the vehicle of the organisation got spoilt so they were unable to come to the venue. None of us met any official of the organisation. So, we could only do the registration in the church. We were then asked to come back the following day to meet the officials of the foundation. We went back there the next day but we didn’t see anybody.”

    “Now I’m just wondering what is going on. Is it that the organisation was a fraud? I think a responsible organisation shouldn’t do such. You don’t just come out and proclaim what you can’t do.”

    Another victim, Anebi Veronica from the Department of History and International Studies, narrated how she collected money from her mum to register.‘

    “I participated in the scholarship. I actually heard from a close friend, who happened to be the pastor of our campus fellowship,” Anebi said.

    “I trusted him and my trust became stronger after he told me the instruction was from Pastor Williams. Since it had something to do with the church, I was very hopeful that something good would come out of it.

    “So when he told me the cost of registration was N2,000, I just called my mummy and explained everything to her. Mum promised to get back to me and within two days she sent me the cash. Other participants and I quickly rushed to the church because it was on a Sunday. From there we went to Pastor KC’s church at Civic Centre, Oye-Ekiti, where we all did the registration. Since that time, there has not been any feedback, nothing like a message or mail up till now,” he said.

    Corroborating Anebi, Mary from the same department, expressed how difficult it was for her to raise the N2000 cash. “After we were told to pay N2,000 for e-passport, I went online to find out more about the e-passport. So, I discovered that it will be useful for me later even if the scholarship stuff didn’t work out, I can still have my e-passport.”

    “That was how I paid the money which wasn’t convenient for me at the time. So, I just felt I had to do it because that stuff (e-passport) will be useful for me later in future.”

    Williams owns up

    When contacted, Rev Williams confirmed that he instructed students to register for the scholarship scheme.

    He said part of the requirements was the electronic passport, which was a pre-condition for registration.

    He revealed that one Mr Benjamin from Fortress of Hope Educational and Youth Development Foundation introduced him to the scholarship scheme meant to benefit Christian students.

    “He asked me to get people that could do electronic passport. I made calls to Lagos and I was told it would cost N5,000. I was like students cannot afford that money. Later, he (Benjamin) then introduced one Mr Abubakar Shuaibu that would undertake the e-passport for N2,000.

    Out of the N2000, Williams said he paid N1,700 to Shuaibu for the e-passport; another N100 for physical passport of each applicant, while his aides who helped him to coordinate the process collected the outstanding.

    “I paid the first part of the money about 120,000 to the man’s (Shuaibu’s) account. The second part was the balance of N87,000, which I also paid into his account. About 140 students registered for the stuff. We have made calls and we have not gotten feedback,” Williams said apologetically.

    He continued: “He, himself (Mr Benjamin) introduced me to this and gave me an address in Ikorodu opposite LASPOTECH (Lagos State Polytechnic). I went there and realised the office was non-existent. I couldn’t even locate the building.

    “I asked for JK Consulting from people around the area, but I was told nothing like that existed there. I called him (Benjamin) and he was not picking my call. He has not been responding to my whatsapp chats since then. He told me he has been sacked.

    “That guy sounded very convincing and intelligent to me that I didn’t even entertain any iota of suspicion. He still posts on whatsapp and I usually view his status,” he added.

    When CAMPUSLIFE contacted Benjamin, he made it clear he no longer works with the firm. Nonetheless, Benjamin insisted the firm is JK Consulting Nig Ltd, adding that it is located in Lagos.

    “I don’t work in that firm again and I made this clear to the participants,” said Benjamin.

    “I didn’t know the person (referring to Williams), who introduced students and other members to apply for programme. I never knew him from Adam . I got his status on social media, and I just liked him. He told me about the pressure he has been facing from students and I promised to look for a way to pay him back for the loss or financial inconveniences.”

    However, when Benjamin was asked who his boss was, he kept mute.

    Meanwhile, Mr Shuaibu, who was paid to produce the electronic passport, also refused to open up when CAMPUSLIFE contacted him. Several attempts to reach him again on phone or via text messages proved abortive.

    Firm reacts

    CAMPUSLIFE investigation has shown that JK. Consulting is a registered private company in Nigeria under the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990, with registration number 627261.

    The company is engaged in the provision of high quality professional consulting services backed up with a wide spectrum of experienced professionals.

    However, when the firm’s head office located in Abuja was contacted, its Manager Mr. Yomi Adetila, refuted all allegations and distanced the company from the purported scholarship scheme.

    “No, it’s not us. I don’t know about any Fortress of Hope Foundation. Please, it’s not us. Send me the details so we can get to the root,” Adetila said.

    We are not aware, says FUOYE mgt.

    The university’s chief security officer (CSO) and the public relations officer (PRO) Messrs Paul Ogidi, and Godfery Bakji, both denied ever being aware of the scholarship scheme.

    Similarly, in a whtassup message sent to CAMPUSLIFE, Dean of Students’ Affairs Dr Dosu Malomo, corroborated the duo. Nonetheless, Malomo said the authority would be willing to lend the affected students a helping hand provided they could lodge official complaints.

    “As at now, we have no information (regarding the scheme), but we can investigate if the students can come individually to make complaints,” Malomo stated in the text.

    And until the school authority wades into the matter, the hope of over 140 students retrieving their N2000, or accessing the scholarships, still hangs in the balance.

  • FUOYE and its transformation

    This is not to flatter or praise, but to appreciate the reality of good transformation and development in all the faculties in the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) particularly in the Faculty of Science.

    With his initiative and unflinching administrative style, one can say without doubt that our vice chancellor, Prof Kayode Soremekun, is a real problem solver.

    We used to face problems of congestion of students in lecture rooms during lectures and examination periods, but now it is no more with his initiative of new spacious and ventilated lecture rooms in some faculties, particularly three of them in the sciences.

    FUOYE is taking shape as a real university now. Prof Soremekun has transformed the university from grass to grace, from four faculties to10.

    Faculty of Pharmacy is 100 percent completed, Management Science and Basic Medical Science are about to be completed while the University Library is attracting students and staff.

    However, attention should be paid to the three in one Science Laboratory in Oye campus. It has been 100 percent complete since roughly six months ago but needs furniture. The use of these big laboratories will ease the problem of congestion of students during the practical sessions. The small laboratories we are using now are small for the large number of students.

    • By Dr. Hammed Olaide Sakiru, Ag. HOD Physics, FUOYE

  • FUOYE, Commonwealth partner on distance learning

    Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, will soon become a dual mode university. The management of the institution has entered into a partnership with the Commonwealth of Learning (COL), in Vancouver, Canada, with a view to making FUOYE run both conventional as well open distance learning (ODL) programmes.

    Commonwealth of Learning is an intergovernmental organisation established by the Commonwealth Heads of Government in 1988, to encourage the development and sharing of open learning and distance education knowledge, and resources.

    Speaking with reporters in OyeEkiti weekend, the Vice-Chancellor of FUOYE, Prof Kayode Soremekun, said running ODL would expand the scope of scholarship around the globe through access to university education and exchange programme among commonwealth universities. Soremekun said CLO was funded mainly to enhancing the quality of educational programmes of the Commonwealth  nations,  COL hosts a biennial pan-commonwealth forum on open learning (PCF),  and Excellence  in distance awards programme.  He said Nigeria as a prominent member-nation of the Commonwealth has representatives on COL’s Board of Governors, adding that this enables the country’s fast growing academic institutions to have linkages with the organisation on open learning and distance programme.

    Soremekun said: “I have visited COL and held series of meetings with the organisation and the matters discussed were focused on developing FUOYE with regards to quality assurance, employability and the strategy to transit FUOYE into a dual mode university.

    “Dual mode means that we are complementing our existing orthodox programmes with the Distance Learning Programme.”

  • FUOYE tasks SUG on good leadership

    FUOYE tasks SUG on good leadership

    The authority of the Federal  University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), has charged the institution’s pioneer Students Union Government (SUG) to exhibit good leadership style and support the university management to enhance development.
    The vice-chancellor of the university, Prof. Kayode Soremekun, gave this charge on Monday at the inauguration of the SUG executives at the university’s auditorium, Oye-Ekiti, Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti.
    According to the vice-chancellor, leadership carries a great degree of responsibility and leaders can only function effectively with the support of their followers.
    “There should be a functional relationship between leaders and followers as leadership cannot be an island.
    “As you are inaugurated today, do not stay too far from the ‘market’; that is the students you are leading; imbibe the spirit of a responsible leadership.
    “Maintain a peaceful and conducive learning atmosphere between the management and the students you are leading.
    “Listen to your followers’ agitations, especially those ones, who will bring about the desired development,” Soremekun said.
    He, however, told them that he operated an open door policy, in which he was prepared to deliberate with people on developmental issues at all times.
    In his address, the pioneer SUG president, Mr Taiwo Fasakin, promised to partner with the university’s management and other organisations to foster development during his tenure.
    He pledged to make the good use of the vice chancellor’s open-door policy to ensure that students generally and the university management enjoyed a good working relationship as well as sustain a conducive academic environment.
    Present on the occasion were, the university’s Acting Registrar, Mrs Oyeyimika Fasakin and Dr Dosumu Malomo,  the Dean, Students Affairs among others.
    The high point of the event was the presentation of the Students Hand Book to members of the SUG by the vice-chancellor.
  • FUOYE students don’t study under trees – VC

    FUOYE students don’t study under trees – VC

    The Vice-Chancellor of  Federal University, Oye-Ekiti  (FUOYE), Prof. Kayode Soremekun, on Wednesday dismissed a report that students on  the Ikole  campus of the institution  were studying under trees.

    The vice chancellor, in a statement issued by the spokesman of the institution, Mr Godfrey Bakji, described the report as  false and misleading.

    Soremekun said apart  from the structures he inherited,  he had  made unprecedented efforts  in improving the state of facilities and constructing new ones.

    The report entitled, “We study under trees’ was published on Tuesday in a national daily.

    Soremekun, however, said:  “I wish to dismiss this statement as not only misleading and false, but a deliberate attempt to malign the integrity of the institution.

    “Aside from the structures I inherited, I have made unprecedented efforts  in improving the state of facilities and constructing new ones.

    “This is borne out of my thirst for rapid growth and development of the institution.

    “In less than a year of my stewardship, I had  attracted 19 new academic programmes and two more faculties to the young institution,” he said.

    The vice chancellor said a resource verification team comprising officials from the National Universities Commission, JAMB and Federal Ministry of Education had visited the institution before approving the programmes.

    “This is to ensure that FUOYE has commensurate facilities to accommodate the new faculties as well as the intending candidates.

    “The resource verification team scored the young FUOYE high, hence its approval.

    “ Therefore, one wonders why any student would say they study under trees in FUOYE, most especially on the Ikole campus that accommodates  only two  out of the seven faculties,’’ he added.

    Soremekun  also said  his administration was  simultaneously developing both the  Oye-Ekiti and Ikole-Ekiti campuses in order to make the university a world-class institution.

    “It is worthy  to mention that the institution is ranked 14th by the National Universities Commission in 2017.

    “This feat could not have been achieved without commensurate sacrifice by the vice chancellor to create conducive learning environment for students and workers respectively.

    “I can assure you that Ikole campus will not be sidelined,’’ he said.

  • Protest as FUOYE management suspends union leaders

    Protest as FUOYE management suspends union leaders

    Workers of Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) on Monday commenced an indefinite strike against alleged victimisation, intimidation and non-payment of hazard allowances.

    Acting under the auspices of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), they also staged a public protest at the school gate and exchanged words with policemen on ground.

    The protesters heckled a team of armed policemen led by Oye Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Sadiku Afolabi, a Superintendent of Police, who warned them against blocking the access road to the campus.

    But the university management has suspended the union leaders for allegedly disrupting the meeting the Governing Council held on the campus last week.

    The angry workers who massed at the gate where they held an emergency congress accused the management of sitting on the promotion of those employed at the inception of the institution while the newly-employed ones were promoted.

    NAAT Chairman, Ekundayo Ajibaye, demanded the withdrawal queries issued them and dissolution of panels allegedly set up to intimidate workers.

    He also said the workers want the immediate constitution of Budget Monitoring Committees alleging financial impropriety against the management.

    Ajibaye said: “We are fighting impunity and corruption is at its peak in FUOYE and we want the Federal Government to beam its searchlight here.”

    NASU Chairman, Dada Adebayo, said workers resorted to industrial action because the management allegedly reneged on the agreement reached after the last crisis in January.

    SSANU Chairman, Babafunso Awe accused the management of being insensitive to workers’ plight saying they won’t back down until all their demands are met.

    Awe also alleged that management has refused to release workers’ cooperative funds which has caused them hardship.

    Reacting, FUOYE spokesman Godfrey Bakji said unions had no basis to go on strike because their leaders have been suspended.

    Bakji described the workers allegation of corruption, intimidation, victimisation and impunity as untrue, baseless, unfounded and an attempt to blackmail the management.

    He said: “The management has issued suspension letters to SSANU and NASU leaders for disrupting a meeting of the governing council.

    “The Council directed that they be issued queries and they were given an opportunity to defend themselves which they failed to take advantage of.

    “On the issue of promotion, those who were qualified for promotion were issued their letters last week.

    “The Act establishing the university does not give room for everybody to be promoted at once, there are processes to be followed.”

    He urged the workers to allow peace to reign, return to their duty posts and see reason with management.

     

  • 18 bag first class at federal university, Oye Ekiti

    18 bag first class at federal university, Oye Ekiti

    Eighteen graduands on Saturday bagged first class honours in their various courses  at the maiden convocation of the  Federal University, Oye Ekiti,(FUOYE), the News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) reports.

    Speaking on the occasion, graced by eminent personalities from far and near, the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof., Kayode Soremekun said he would strive to make the university become not only a model but a self sustaining institution of learning.

    He said the university which was established barely six years ago, was currently rated by the National Universitues Commission as the 14th best  among the over 100 universities in the country.

    According to him the graduands being turned out were  the type that could stand and survive on  their own without having to search endlessly for white collar jobs that are not readily available.

    He enjoined them to be good ambassadors of the institution through good behaviours and proof of academic know-how garnered from the institution.

    NAN reports that one of the highlights of the occasion included the award of honorary doctorates  on three retired secondary school principals and a computer scholar.

    The recipients included 100-year-old Chief Adepoju Akomolafe; 89-year-old Chief Francis Daramola and Mrs. Efunjoke Coker, while
    the fourth honoree is an ICT expert, Dr. Babatope Agbeyo.

    The Attah of Igala and Permanent Chairman of Kogi State Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM Michael Idakwo was also formally installed as the pioneer Chancellor of the university.

    The new chancellor expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for the honour done him and the entire Kogi state people.

    He promised to use his influence to accelerate the university’s  infrastructural development.

    NAN reports that a total of 504 graduands cutting across 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 academic sessions received their first degrees while engineering graduands were inducted into their professional bodies.

    A breakdown shows that for the 2014/2015 session, eight students bagged First Class honours; 69 Second Class Upper ; 79 Second Class Lower; Third Class (8) and Pass (1).

    For the 2015/2016 session:,First Class (10); Second Class Upper (155); Second Class Lower (134) and Third Class 40.(