By Oluwagbemiga ’Toye
The Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) on Saturday, February 7, 2026, recorded another landmark in its academic journey as it graduated 7,684 students during its 10th Convocation Ceremony held at the institution’s main campus in Oye-Ekiti.
Delivering the convocation lecture, the Catholic Bishop of the Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Matthew Hassan Kukah, reflected on the state of democracy in Nigeria and other parts of the world. He observed that despite grievances, protests, imprisonments and instances where large percentages of votes are not fully accounted for, societies often return to normalcy.
According to him, democracy remains the most preferable system of governance, even though the attitudes, values and institutions required for its proper functioning are yet to fully mature and effectively utilised.
The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu who represented Nigeria president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu
congratulated the university community on the successful convocation, describing FUOYE as one of the fastest-growing universities in Nigeria within just over a decade of its establishment. He commended the Chancellor, Pro-Chancellor, Governing Council, Vice-Chancellor, management, staff and students for their collective commitment to academic excellence and institutional growth.
Addressing the graduands, the President urged them to apply the knowledge and skills acquired during their studies to build productive lives and contribute meaningfully to national development. He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to revitalising the education sector through pragmatic policies and sustainable funding.
Prof. Ribadu highlighted key reforms under the Tinubu administration, including the operationalisation of the National Education Loan Fund, through which over ₦120 billion has been disbursed to Nigerian students. He also announced the approval of interest-free staff loan schemes, the successful renegotiation and signing of a new agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), and a 40 per cent salary increase for academic staff. Other achievements, he noted, include improved research funding, strengthened university autonomy and the exit of tertiary institutions from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS). He further called on university administrators and unions to uphold discipline, accountability and ethical standards, warning against academic misconduct such as plagiarism and extortion.
A total of 7,684 students were awarded degrees across various disciplines, comprising 131 First Class graduates, 2,519 Second Class Upper, 3,777 Second Class Lower, 966 Third Class, and three Pass degrees.
The overall best graduating student, Adeniyi Maryam Adedolapo, emerged from the Department of Basic Medical Sciences (Anatomy) with a First Class degree and a CGPA of 4.89.
In his address, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for his immense support to the university in both human and material resources, including the recently signed agreement with ASUU.
He urged the graduands to embrace innovation and creativity, encouraging them to become job creators rather than job seekers, and to uphold the values of honesty, excellence and service instilled by the institution.
Senator Ndoma-Egba reiterated the university’s vision of becoming a leading institution in Africa and beyond, and appealed to the Federal Government for support in the construction of additional student hostels, lecture halls, staff offices and quarters, rehabilitation of road networks, drainage and erosion control, landscaping, staffing and increased funding.
In his valedictory address, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina, whose tenure concluded with the convocation, expressed gratitude to God for what he described as “a good beginning and an enviable conclusion.” He said FUOYE had grown from its infancy to become the fourth most sought-after university in Nigeria, with rising national and international recognition.
Prof. Fasina disclosed that within five years, his administration expanded the university’s faculties from 8 to 18, academic programmes from 73 to 91, directorates from 1 to 19, institutes from none to 4, and departments from 67 to 81. He added that 88 programmes have received full NUC accreditation, with only three awaiting final approval.
He further revealed that FUOYE now boasts over 50,000 full-time students and more than 6,200 part-time students across neighbouring communities, noting that over 160 projects were completed during his tenure. According to him, these achievements were driven by a 310 per cent increase in Internally Generated Revenue, complemented by support from the Federal Government, TETFund and other stakeholders.
The convocation ceremony also featured the conferment of honorary doctoral degrees on the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, CON; the Oloye of Oye-Ekiti, HRM Oba (Sir) Oluwole Ademolaju Adugbole III, OON; Most Rev. Dr. Matthew Hassan Kukah, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sokoto; His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, CON, the Sultan of Sokoto; and Justice Walter Onnoghen, former Chief Justice of Nigeria, in recognition of their leadership, integrity and contributions to national developme