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FOUYE’S Council commends VC, plans project inspection visit Feb 11th
By Adeyinka Ademuyiwa
The Governing Council of Federal University, Oye- Ekiti (FUOYE), led by its Chairman and Pro Chancellor, Prof Tunde Samuel rose from its 18th Statutory Meeting of Thursday December 19, 2019 commending the Vice-Chancellor and his lieutenants over the rate of infrastructural development at the institution.
Receiving the report of project development activities, the excited Council Members recalled the starting point and slated Tuesday February 11, 2020 for a comprehensive inspection visit of the campus housing several building facilities and other educational infrastructure which have been erected under the tenure of the Council which coincidental falls largely under the tenure of the Vice Chancellor too.
According to Council Decision Extract made available to FUOYENews, “Council took note of giant strides that the university is making in providing adequate infrastructure and want to formally commend the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Kayode Soremekun, his management team and the Director of Physical Planning Unit, Mr Adebowale Ayodele for delivering on the mandate giving to them, for their selfless service and for their meritorious services the development of the university”.
The Pro Chancellor, who is particularly delighted after receiving the progress report on university projects that he his leading so committed team of professionals, has directed that proper documentations of the projects be done since they are all executed during his stewardship.
Some of the projects listed for inspection are: Twin Lecture Theatre for Faculty of Management; The Administrative Building, The University Library; Extension of the main university road to lead to new faculty of Pharmacy and Hostels; New Faculty of Agriculture Building; Faculty of Pharmacy buildings and laboratories; 500 capacity Faculty of Science Large Lecture Theatre; The new road opening the university to Oye-Ikole Road; And stunning feats of Directorates of Top Up and Conversion and the Distance Learning Programme
The Council, comprising Prof Babatunde Samuel (Chairman and Pro Chancellor); Prof Kayode Soremekun, Vice-Chancellor; Prof Abayomi Sunday Fasina (Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration); Prof Olusola Johnson Ojo, (Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic); Mr Abdullahi Salihu Jibrin (Member); Alhaji Alkali Aji Kolo (Member); Engr. Sabo Inuwa (Member); Prof O.Omotola (Member); Prof O.S. Lawal (Member); Prof S. Adejuyigbe (Member), Mrs Bolatito Roseline Akande (Member) and the Ag Registrar, Mr Mufutau Ibrahim which had been tireless in advancing the course of growth of the university also mandated the management to commence preparatory process for reviewing the university master plan.
Our members did not attack Journalists, says FUOYE Union Leaders
….commends management on conversion
By Chris Ukaegbu and Godfrey Bakji.
The leadership of the Joint Action Committee 2- Comprising the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) has denied an allegation that journalists who come to cover its university wide Congress held on January 22, 2020 were attacked by some members of the Unions even as they commended the university management on the last conversion exercise.
The duo, Comrade Oyelude Yekeen Oyelowo (SSANU Chairman) and Comrade Ojumola Ayodele (NASU Chairman) debunked the allegations published by an obscure online media that journalists were physically attacked or that their cameras were damaged. They made the clarifications while fielding questions from reporters of FUOYENews and a visiting journalist from Ekiti Standard newspaper, Mr. Emmanuel Onwusoro, on January 27, 2020 at the Directorate of Corporate Services office.
In the words of Comrade Ojumola: “We read the report too, but it is far from the truth. No member of our unions attacked any journalist. The public should note that. There was an argument. Some people complained that a car nearly hit them while reversing. There was no assault. We went and pacified them and they left. There was no assault on any journalist that day. None of our members used anything against any journalists”, he stressed.
Echoing his NASU counterpart, Mr. Oyelude said: “A car nearly hit some people while reversing and the affected staff reacted naturally. We stepped in and order was restored immediately and the Congress continued. There was no incidence of threats or assault on anybody”.
The Union Leaders also commended the University management on the recent Conversion exercise: “You know because we are responsible Unions, we don’t have personal issues against the management. When they do it right, we commend them. We want to give it to them on Conversion last year. They attended to that case last year though not enough”. “But at least they have opened the door that if one has an additional qualification in the institution, you hope that one day you would be considered”, they contended.
Explaining labour’s stand on the lingering agitations, on which management had met with the labour more than five times, the Union leaders submitted that the summary of their demand is to ensure dignity of labour, “pushing management to do the right thing, correcting irregularities we observed in the system, taking care of the welfare of our members etc”, warranted the agitations.
On the specific areas of agitations, the Union Leaders averred that the 2018/2019 Staff Promotions exercise was characterized by abnormalities, accusing the management of reneging on agreements early reached with the Unions.
They debunked the claim in the public domain that the unions were demanding for 2019 Christmas Bonus. This described as far from the truth: “It is a lie. We are not asking for Christmas Bonus. We are responsible leaders, leading responsible unions. We know our limit. We know our boundary. We know what is statutory. We know what is legitimate. Christmas Bonus is discretional. They can pay or not. It did not form basis for our agitation”.
Another reason for the agitation is the non-payment of over time allowance to deserving staff. These according to them, these include members of staff who work with Principal Officers and often close very late as well as drivers, who apart from not having closing time, sometimes work at weekends.
Shift duty allowance should be available for members of staff of the University who run shift duty schedules like those in the Medical Centre, Security, Information and Protocols, Vice Chancellor’s Office, Library and hostels.
FUOYE will excite Mr. President, says NYCN Vice President.
The Vice President of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Mr Olamide Odumosu has declared that Federal University Oye Ekiti (FUOYE) is a brand that will excite the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Bukari (GCFR), describing the university as the “fastest growing” in the country.
Odumosu, who led seven others including two from Ekiti State Executives of the organisation, made this declaration on Thursday January 30, 2020 at the Vice Chancellor’s office after completing Public Projects inspection visit.
Thanking the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Kayode Soremekun, Odumosu said, “I want to really appreciate you formally. We have come to see for ourselves, what you are doing. We have heard a lot about your activities from our Branch Executives in Ekiti State. What I see today is exactly what Mr President wants from all public office holders”
We want to commend you and appreciate your tireless efforts in mounting several academic programmes in this university within so short a time. Some universities created about the same time with FUOYE have only 12 academic programmes whereas you already have ten faculties, each of which has more than six academic programmes, meaning that you have already about sixty academic programmes. Wonderful!
“We also want to congratulate your Theatre and Media Arts Department for winning the National Arts and Media Contest. All that we have seen, we will document sir”, he further said.
Responding the Vice Chancellor thanked the visiting youths. “You have been able to break the mould of the cantankerous and destructive nature of Nigerian youths”, he said pointing out that the youths recognised value and that means they are people of value too. “Only the deep can call to the deep”, he stressed quoting the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
“We we started, and my visiting associate pointed my attention to the enormity of the work that has to be done, I was very frightened” he recalled thanking GOD for the marvelous work HE has done at FUOYE.
As we stand here, Prof Soremekun continued, there is still a lot to be done. We already have 20,000 students. We need to build more capacity and put in place facilities to match our growth and expansion”, he stressed adding that it is possible to retrieve Nigeria from the dark inglorious past and put it on the path of glory.
FUOYE, with a rally, joins others to observe NTDs day
By Ukaegbu Chris
The Faculty of Science, Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), joined the rest of the world to observe the World Neglected Diseases (NTDs) Day with a road show on Wednesday January 29, 2020. The theme of the day is: “Raising Awareness to fight Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs)”.
The awareness rally, which was part of a two-day programme of events started from the University gate with a three minute stopover at Ifaki Junction. It then moved on to Adebayo road/First Bank area and then to Ijigbo roundabout. Another team, which covered the State Secretariat and ABUAD joined the FUOYE team at Ijigbo where all the teams converged before embarking on a road walk to Oke Iyinmi.
Earlier in the awareness Campaign, the team led by Dr. Mogaji Hammed and other co-organisers like Dr. S. I. Oyedeji, Dr. H. I. Okoh, Dr. M. I. Odoh, had live Radio Programme at Radio Nigeria, Progress FM, 100.5 where they interacted with live audience who participated actively in question and answer session on the essence of the Day.
It would be recalled that Dr. Mogaji Hammed of the Department of Animal and Environmental Biology in the Faculty of Science won a micro-grant of two thousand five hundred ($2,500) USD provided by the Crown Prince Court of Abu Dhabi through the Global Health Strategies to host the first World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) Day event in FUOYE.
Speaking on the importance of this grant, the Dean, Faculty of Science of the university, Professor Olaide Samuel Lawal said, “In the Faculty of Science, we have always equipped our staff intellectually and prepared them sufficiently to compete for grants. You will recall that few months ago we had a Grantsmanship Workshop and we invited distinguished scholars from many universities. Some eminent scholars were here. The Workshop was to equip our staff, to train them, on how to write grant-winning proposals. This one that was won by one of our staff, Dr. Hammed Mogaji, was as a result of his ability to key into the Workshop.”
The Crown Prince Court of Abu Dhabi micro grant is meant to raise awareness to fight all neglected diseases in the tropics. In doing this the Dean said, “We need to know what these neglected tropical diseases are. You will agree with me that there are some tropical diseases that are already in the limelight of World Health Organizations such as malaria, Tuberculosis, etc, Those ones are already attracting a lot of attention globally, whereas there are other diseases in the tropics that are peculiar to us and they are killing people and people are suffering a lot from them.”
So the grant is to raise awareness about the neglected diseases in the tropics, identify the things can be done for prevention and even if somebody is affected, specify where they can get treatment. We also want to work out strategies on how to prevent continuous infection.
Some of the NTDs identified in the grant-winning proposal were diseases like Guinea worm (Sobia in Yoruba), Human African trypanosomiasis, Leprosy, Elephantiasis, River blindness, Schistosomiasis, Soil-transmitted helminthiases (worms transmitted diseases), Onochocerciasis, Scabies and other ectoparasites. However, wareness would be focused specifically on the diseases that are affecting Ekiti State like Lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis), Onochocerciasis or River blindness, Schistosomiasis or Atosi aja and Soil-transmitted helminthiases or worms infection. These are the ones affecting Ekiti State as captured in the award-winning proposal.
FRSC officials were on hand to direct traffic on all the routes where the awareness campaign took place.
Radiographers excited about FUOYE programme
By Chinedu Okafor.
The National President, Association of Radiographers of Nigeria (ARN), Dr. Joseph D. Zira has expressed joy and satisfaction with the plans of Federal University Oye Ekiti (FUOYE), to mount radiography degree programme in the university.
The Professor of Radiography from Bayero University Kano, who led a delegation of his professionals on a courtesy call to the FUOYE Vice Chancellor, Professor Kayode Soremekun on Monday January 20, 2020, said “One of the mandate of this Association is to promote the establishment of Radiography schools all over Nigeria”.
The Ace Radiographer expressed readiness to collaborate with the University for the purpose of facilitating the establishment of Radiography program stressing that as Radiographers representing Radiography profession, they had come specifically to key into the university’s developmental policies most especially in the latter’s efforts at establishing Basic Medical disciplines.
He described the difference between Radiology and Radiography indicating that the former deals with Medical doctors that are specialists in the practice of medicine using radiation technology while Radiography simply meant the profession itself. He corroborated the statement by adding that both bodies work as a team to ensure efficient health care services delivery to patients.
Stressing the importance of establishing the Radiography program into the young university, Dr. Zira noted that the introduction would have a future positive impact on the health care delivery system of the people in Ekiti State and South West region at large.
According to him, “based on statistics available, only the University of Lagos(UNILAG), amongst the Universities domiciled in South West states, offers Radiography program.“In the whole of Ekiti State, no General Hospital aside from EKSUTH and FETHI has a single radiographer”.
“The risk behind it, is that if the real Radiographers who have the license to dispense radiation are not allowed to practice due to paucity of professionals, it will pose health challenges when quacks dabble into the practice without the adequate training”, he added.
The Radiographer President further reiterated the Association’s willingness to support the University in ensuring the smooth take off of the program. “We also have some able Radiographers within the South West region so that the selection of workforce will not be much a problem. We are going to advice properly so that the right things will be put in place. So we are here to key into the vision and also encourage the university to adopt the policy of starting Radiography program”, he further said.
Responding, Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kayode Soremekun, expressed delight with the Association adding that the visit could not come at no better time other than now that the university had just began its process of launching various Medical programs.
“At the moment, we are actively establishing synergy with Federal Teaching Hospital IdoEkiti (FETHI), which has offered us a platform for our clinical activities even before starting”, he further disclosed.
The University Administrator further decried the paucity of funds made available to Universities by the Federal Government adding that his administration would look into the cost implication involved in floating the Radiography program more so that a few other programs like Anatomy and Physiology were also in the offing.
In his words, “we are looking at some sources of funds with which to prosecute Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences with a view to providing more laboratories, classrooms and teachers. That is the lesson because when you are thinking of establishing a program, you also have to think of corresponding facilities”.
He commended the regulatory body governing Radiography practice, for maintaining peace since its formation stating that the Association had prevented what he referred to as perennial conflicts. “I have never heard about problems between Radiographers on one hand and Radiologists on other hand. The struggle for hegemony and privileges which characterises most struggles in a profession often times removes the focus of efficient health care service which is primarily the well being of patients”.
Speaking at the meeting, the Director of Academic Planning Unit, Prof. Cecilia Akintayo, disclosed that the Management of the University had already approved the commencement of five disciplines under the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, thus; Anatomy, Medical laboratory Science, Physiology, Radiography and Nursing while reiterating the need to expedite action in inviting the National Universities Commission (NUC) at the Resource Verification level for the approval of the programs.
“We hope that moving forward, we will begin to put concrete plans in place so as to consummate our collective and individual aspirations between FUOYE and your Association”, Professor Akintayo said.
FUOYE, Ekiti State Government collaborate on yellow fever vaccination.
By Godfrey Barji
The Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) and the Ekiti State Primary Health Care Development Agency (ESPHCD) recently collaborated to vaccinate students and staff of the university against the yellow fever virus.
The mobile vaccination campaign which takes officials of the University Health Centre led by the Acting Director, Dr. Musbau O. Olawale to faculties, administrative buildings and other centers lasted from January 24th to February 2nd 2020.
Speaking with FUOYENews on Tuesday, January 27, 2020, Dr, Olawale described the turn out as very impressive saying many of those expected, that is the staff and students between the ages of 9months to 44years, turned up. It was done between 8am -4pm daily.
In separate memos to mobilize workers and students, Mrs Bukola Faluyi of the ESPHCDA wrote on November 14, last year that “yellow fever is a viral infection spread by a particular species of mosquitoes and it is completely vaccine preventive disease”.
“Since September, 2017 till date, Nigeria has recorded suspected cases of yellow fever in all states of the Federation”, she said and added that “in July 2019 alone, 78 cases have been laboratory confirmed in Nigeria. This therefore calls for concern to keep the populace protected against this disease which could cause death,” she further explained.
“In view of the above, I am directed to inform you that the health workers will be visiting your educational and religious institutions to vaccinate people within the target age group,” she further said and begged that “with your good office, kindly ensure that the campaign is given wide publicity as a key stakeholder in the making of the programme a success”.
FUOYE, on the directive of the Vice Chancellor, Professor Kayode Soremekun through memos of January 15, 2020 and January 21, 2020 from the University Health Centre and the Registry moblised target participants for the campaign.
Mandatory wearing of University Identity Cards
This is to inform the entire of members of staff that the university management has directed the mandatory wearing of the university identity card while on campuses.
Consequently, all members of staff are expected to comply with this directive.
Thank you.
Wuraola R. AYEDERO
For: Ag. Registrar
The Registry is in the process of compiling the names of Non-Teaching Staff who have not been enrolled into the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
Consequently, all affected Non-Teaching Staff should visit the Personnel Affairs Division to put down their names with reasons for their inability to enroll in December, 2019 on or before the close of work on Friday, 31st January 2020.
This memo supersedes the earlier one dated 27th January, 2020, on this subject.
Thank you.
Signed
Omolara R. Abe (Mrs)
For: Ag Registrar.
University’s Assets Inscription Committee (UAIC)
This is to inform the entire members of staff of the University that a Committee has been constituted by the University Management to identify and label all University assets within the time frame of six weeks.
Accordingly, for this to be carried out effectively, the Committee hereby requests that all the Head of Departments/Units of the University should list out all University Assets in their care in accordance with the template attached therein.
It will be appreciated if the lists of items are submitted to the Secretary of the University Assets Inscription Committee (UAIC), Bursar’s Office On or Before Friday, 10th January, 2020.
Thank you.
Olanrewaju T. Ojo
For: Chairman, UAIC
University Health Centre
What you should know about lassa fever
1. MODE OF TRANSMISSION
· Food contaminated with rat urine and feces
· Contact with body fluid of infected person
2. SYMPTOMS
· Fever
· Headache
· Muscle pain
· Nausea
· Vomiting
· Diarrhea
· Sore throat
· Cough
· Chest pain
· Bleeding for orifices
3. PREVENTION
· Protect food from rat contamination, using strong container with cover
· Keep house and surroundings clean to discourage rat access
· Avoid contact with secretions from infected person by means of protective clothing: mask, gloves, gowns, goggles.
· Let a sick person go to health facility if
– Fever is not responding to anti malaria
– Fever is taking too long to subside or
– Bleeding is noticed
Locating the Mid-point.
By Ademuyiwa Adeyinka
For weeks now the Joint Action Committee (JAC2) of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) FUOYE Branch and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) of the same University had been at logger heads with the University Management over allowances, overtime claims and last year promotion exercise. Even after five meetings, all invited by the Management and running to hours there is no mid-point or resolution of the disagreements. Already the labour had given a seven day ultimatum that had lapsed and another one lapsed last Friday January 31, 2020.
While, the labour leaders remain adamant on their four point demand, pretending to negotiate but not yielding an inch even in the face of contradictory financial regulations that makes their demands very difficult to accede to, the management had been offering the olive branch, initiating moves that could lead to resolution of the crisis.
In Physics, a mid point is a fulcrum on which can rest a pole to balance forces either to the right or to the left. It is a fault line to crystallographers which holds an object in shape. To economics, mid point is a form of equilibrium point that equates aggregate demand and aggregate supplies. It describes a state of complete agreement between sellers and buyers of a commodity. It is that agreement point in negotiation that we are seeking for after several hours and five meetings. It should not be elusive.
In a recent interview with FUOYENews duo of Godfrey Bakji and Chris Ukaegbu, the Union leaders talked with so much heat and passion that one wonders if meetings of all these weeks and explanations at various meetings had any effect.
While labour wants all staff recommended for promotion, promoted, Management is saying promotion is an individual thing and those who did not make the cut will not be promoted. Looking for a mid-point, the Vice-chancellor, who had repeatedly asked for what is wrong in the last exercise and promising his readiness to revisit genuine errors, again formed a Committee comprising the Ag Registrar, the Director of Administration and the two Chairmen of JAC 2 to look into the matter. That committee, according to Prof Soremekun, will even be a standing committee to accommodate genuine concerns of Union Leaders at every promotion exercise. To me, for now, that appears the best. However, statements of Union Leaders are after that meeting and their body language do not suggest they appreciate this gesture.
Again on balance of 2016 Promotion Arrears, Management’s statement of January 15, 2020 explained the starting position. “The management wishes to state emphatically that the Federal Government and the University Governing Council have stopped payment of promotion Arrears,” the Ag Registrar said, adding that what management did by paying previously was a concession to buy peace which has not been reciprocated.
However, in the meeting following that release, the Vice-Chancellor again directed the Bursar , Mrs B.R Akande, to look into the cost implication of this request and the financial regulations. This is another sign of readiness of the management to take a second look at the issue. Unfortunately, again, the Unions just won’t bulge.
As you read this, the second ultimatum would have lapsed. Perhaps another Congress will come today or tomorrow. And the threats to our academic calendar remain.
Comrade Yekeen Oyelude and Comrade Ojumola Ayodele carry on their shoulders heavy duties to navigate the University from crisis and the still get the demands of their members.
As leaders, they need to appreciate the olive branch of management in that last meeting and the plea that with some patience and understanding, things will get better.
More importantly, our labour leaders need to show commitment to academic peace and deploy alternative approaches to resolving issues. They need to come to the table to negotiate and be prepared to trade off some things. Our Comrades needs to trust their members in information dissemination business and refrain from hobnobbing with renowned people of questionable character within Correspondent Corps. May God guide your path.
FUOYE VC never authorised changes in school fees
The attention of the management of Federal University, Oye Ekiti (FUOYE) has been drawn to a published story on an online news media www.opr.news titled, “FUOYE’s VC orders a substantial decrease in School fees”
The story, to say the least is very “unprofessional”. No byline, no attribution of any sort. The writer did a very poor job because the story has no source of any kind. No interview with any university official, no authority from any university document, nothing.
As if that is not poor enough, the website has no visible contact, no vision, no mission statement.
As the webpage is fictitious, so is the news. It’s just a fabrication, a figment of writer’s imagination and a tissue of lies.
For instance, Prof Soremekun is 67 years old this year and not 59 as the story fictitiously imagined.
Again the fees rates quoted had no official backing and does not represent the official school fees in the Federal University, Oye Ekiti.
No serious organisation takes fictitious online media seriously, www.opr.news inclusive.
However, when such shadowy outfit tries to mislead the public, one will have no choice but to correct such lies, hence this rebuttal.
If operators of www.opr.news are interested in news about FUOYE, they should do it professionally by asking for relevant information from the right sources. It is a disservice to the university, and the students to do otherwise.
Thank you.
