The Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) has conferred honorary doctorate degrees on prominent religious and judicial figures, including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, during its 10th Convocation Ceremony held on Saturday.
The ceremony also marked the final convocation of the outgoing Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abayomi Fasina, who used the occasion to present a stewardship report detailing what he described as five years of “unprecedented growth and transformation” at the institution.
In a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, Fasina said FUOYE had emerged as the fourth most sought-after university among admission seekers in Nigeria, alongside steady improvements in national university rankings under his leadership.
According to him, a total of 7,684 students graduated at the convocation, comprising 7,396 undergraduates, including 131 First Class degree holders, and 288 postgraduate students.
“Our achievements are encapsulated in the 20-point agenda and transformation blueprint for FUOYE, which we have diligently implemented since I assumed office in 2021,” Fasina said. “I congratulate the graduating students for being found worthy in learning and character.”
Other recipients of honorary doctorate degrees included the Oloye of Oye-Ekiti, Oba Michael Oluwole Adugbole III, former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, and the Convocation Lecturer, Rev. Matthew Kukah, the Bishop of the Sokoto Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church.
Fasina disclosed that student enrolment rose sharply from about 20,000 at the beginning of his tenure to over 60,000, while massive infrastructural development significantly altered the university’s physical landscape.
He also highlighted improvements in staff quality, student output and financial sustainability, noting that the institution’s internally generated revenue increased by about 310 per cent.
The outgoing vice-chancellor, whose tenure ends next week, expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for sustained support to the university. The president was represented at the event by the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Abdullahi Ribadu.
Fasina also congratulated his successor, Prof. Joshua Ogunwale, who recently emerged through a competitive selection process.
In his remarks, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Victor Ndoma-Egba, thanked President Tinubu and the Federal Government for ongoing reforms in the education sector.
He also acknowledged the contributions of the Federal Ministry of Education, the NUC, JAMB, TETFund, NELFund, the Ekiti State Government, host communities, parents, guardians and other stakeholders to FUOYE’s development.
The convocation ceremony was also historic for producing the first set of FUOYE law graduates, who are expected to proceed to the Nigerian Law School in September.