The Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences, Iyin-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Professor Olugbenga Aribisala, has advised the intending staff of the new University to scale up their game in the area of computer as he said the University is going be ICT driven.
Professor Aribisala gave the advice over the weekend while speaking with newsmen at a reception held in his honour by committee of younger brothers comprising Messrs Morakinyo Ogunmodimu, Olusegun Adewumi, James Akosile and Olumide kumolalo in Ado-Ekiti, the State capital.
The Vice Chancellor, who also gave the hint that work has started at the permanent site of the Institution stated that it’s going to be progressive, adding that they are trying to create a 21st century University where waste will be converted to wealth.
“Some of the waste you see around whether domestic, institutional or industrial, we are going to channel them to generate electricity. We are going to contribute our own quota especially in the area of energy, manpower development and the quality of graduates.
“What we have done so far is to begin to put the structure in place. We have started the design and is at the completion stage which we are going to unveil very soon. The academic brief is nearly ready, the master plan is nearly ready, the course content is ready. We are working on the self study form and the handbooks. The laboratories and the Classrooms should be in place.
Aribisala, who said they would begin recruitment very soon which according to him would be on merit and competitive, explained that it would be advertised on the National Dailies, the University website including the Online Media, saying it’s a Federal University and that people are supposed to come from every part of Nigeria.
Describing his appointment as the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of FUTES as enormous responsibility, he remarked that he has to start from the scratch and begin to build up from there.
“But the joy we have is that we have the backing of the Presidency, we have the backing of the Federal Ministry of Education and all the educational parastatals”.
Speaking on how the university will be distinguished from others, Professor Aribisala promised to bring in a lot of qualified Professors from different backgrounds for the purpose of knowledge production.
Speaking on prioritising the welfare of staff and students of the Institution, the University boss maintained that he wants a university where staff and students can relate.
“We want a residential University for both staff and students. Our university is looking at some of the problems other universities are having, and we don’t want to run into it. Other universities are doing excellently well, but there are things to improve on”, said the Vice Chancellor.
Giving credence to the VC, the former governor of Ekiti State, Engr. Segun Oni said
he is fortunate being a pioneer Vice Chancellor, saying he has an exceptional opportunity to deliver his dream for others coming behind him to meet what he has done.
He is man that doesn’t joke with his job. He takes every opportunity to deliver excellence in whatever he does”, said the former governor.
Also, the immediate past Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, Dr. Dayo Oladebeye. opined that the Vice-Chancellor is a man of many parts, saying he is unassuming and very easy to approach at any time. He equally described him as a round peg in a round hole with his appointment as the Vice Chancellor of the new University.
He urged him to always put God first in everything he does noting that it is not an easy task pioneering a university. He therefore prayed that God would continue to help him as he pilot the affairs of the university.
Similarly, an Iyin-Ekiti born High Chief, Dr. Tope Aluko, who has been a long time friend of the VC, described him as an exceptional student back in their days at the University of Ilorin where they were both students before coming to meet again at the University of Ado-Ekiti, now Ekiti State University as lecturers.
Noting that Professor Aribisala is very brilliant and very quiet, Dr. Aluko said Iyin-Ekiti is lucky to have him as the VC of FUTES sa he further described him as a manager, a mentor, a teacher, and a disciplinarian.
According to Aluko, he has a way of allowing people to talk while he would keep quiet and take a decisions.
“In most times, his decisions are always hundred percent perfect. I am not saying he’s God, but we are seeing that people that have worked with him, people that have worked under him, people that have worked beside him, even people that have worked against him have realized that he needs to be respected.
“We are lucky to have him in Iyin-Ekiti because he’s going to bring those attributes to bear. With the little time he has spent with us, we have learnt to recognize him, we have learnt to respect his views, and we have learnt to support him in all the ways that we can, because he’s a good man to us”.
The Dean, Faculty of Engineering, Ekiti State University, Professor Olumide Moses Ogundipe, pointed out that Aribisala is one of the funding members of the faculty. He said they were not surprised when President Bola Tinubu decided to appoint him as the pioneer Vice Chancellor of the University.
He advised him to continue in the way he has been doing as he said that he’s a man that is always happy at the success of others.
In a similar vein, the Senior Pastor of Chapel of His Glory, Ado-Ekiti, Reverend Mrs Modupe Salami, in her own remark. stated that the university administrator is a dedicated child of God.
Stressing that he loves the work of God and that he’s very diligent, very steadfast and committed in whatever he wants to do. Adding that he is a consistent person and one of the good hands in the church where is a distinct pastor.
“As he is making waves in the academic world, he is also making waves in the church of God, and we are proud of him to be one of us”, the Senior Pastor affirmed.
Speaking on behalf of the committee that organized the reception in honour of the VC, Mr. Olumide Kumolalo, stated that they all prayed and hoped for a change of status for Professor Aribisala, who he described as a loving brother, and that it eventually came to pass as he is now the Vice Chancellor of a Federal University.
“He became the Vice Chancellor of a new university where he has role to lay a foundation and make his own personal imprint. We know he would live long but we don’t want to wait until he dies before we celebrate him”, he said.
Highlight of the occasion which had dignitaries from all walks of life in attendance such as; Professor Rotimi Sanya, Pioneer Provost, College of Medicine, Afe Babalola University (ABUAD), and Member, Governing Council, Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences (FUTES), Iyin Ekiti, the University Bursar, Mrs Rachael Ajayi, everyone that matters in academics including the mother of the celebrant and Royal Fathers, was presentation of gifts to the Vice Chancellor by the well wishers.