By Oluwagbemiga ‘Toye
The newly inaugurated Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Professor Joshua Olalekan Ogunwole, has declared a zero-tolerance against violence, indiscipline and misconduct within the institution, pledging to restore civility, order and academic excellence.
Prof. Ogunwole, who was formally inaugurated as the fifth substantive Vice-Chancellor of the university, on Wednesday said FUOYE must refocus on its core mandate of teaching, research and innovation, rather than attracting public attention for controversies.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the Vice-Chancellor
noted that FUOYE has made remarkable progress in entrepreneurial education, technology integration and impactful research, Ogunwole lamented that recent developments have overshadowed its achievements. “In recent years, FUOYE has featured in the public space with troubling regularity, not for groundbreaking discoveries or scholarly excellence, but for issues that strike at the very heart of the university,” he said.
He decried what he described as declining civility, erosion of decorum, impunity and conduct unbecoming of a scholarly community, warning that such behaviours would no longer be tolerated. According to him, confrontational posturing, verbal aggression and disregard for constituted authority have, at times, found expression within the university system, weakening discipline, due process and governance structures.
“Our collective conduct, particularly across social media and other public communication platforms, has at times brought the university into disrepute. Achievements that ought to have earned FUOYE national and international recognition have instead been overshadowed by controversy, resulting in institutional embarrassment,” he stated.
The Vice-Chancellor stressed that consistent enforcement of institutional rules and ethical standards would not be an act of repression but a necessary step toward restoring trust, strengthening governance and protecting the university’s credibility. He affirmed that sustained vision, integrity, accountability and innovation would guide his administration as FUOYE positions itself to evolve into a world-class research university capable of competing nationally and globally.
Prof Ogunwole called on faculty, students and professional staff to work collectively in unlocking the full potential of the institution, emphasizing that discipline, respect for due process and commitment to excellence would form the cornerstone of his leadership.
The Vice Chancellor expressed appreciation to representatives of the Presidency, the Federal Ministry of Education, union leaders and the Student Union Government for their presence, assuring them of a tenure built on mutual respect, constructive engagement and shared commitment to institutional advancement.
He also acknowledged the contributions of distinguished stakeholders, particularly ,Senator Sylvester Ayodele Arise, for their roles in championing the establishment of the university.
Ogunwole paid glowing tribute to his predecessor, Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fashina, described him as a transformational leader and achiever whose impact would remain indelible in the history of the institution. He equally saluted the efforts of former Vice-Chancellors who laid the foundation for the university’s growth since its establishment in 2011.
Dignitaries from all walks of life including, royal fathers, religious leaders, government officials, SSG to Ekiti state government,students union boby among others attended the epock event.