The Vice Chancellor, VC, of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, FUOYE, Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina, has emerged winner of the prestigious Daily Independent Newspapers Awards 2024 for the Best Vice Chancellor of the Year.
The award was conferred on Prof. Fasina, a distinguished professor of soil science, in recognition of his exceptional leadership, transformative vision, and innovative steps, which in the last four years of his administration of FUOYE’s affairs, have taken the university to enviable heights.
The presentation of the award to FUOYE VC took place on Saturday at the Convention Centre, Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, where many other prominent Nigerians and great achievers were equally honoured for their immense contributions in the service to humanity, nation building and socio-economic development.
The event attended by the crème-de-la-crème was chaired by former Chairman of the board of the Nigeria Ports Authority, NPA, and former military governor of Ondo State, Chief Olabode George.
Some of the other awardees included Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu – Woman of the Year; governor of Oyo State, Engr Seyi Makinde – Man of the Year; Senator Bassey Otu – Governor of the Year in Economic Transformation; governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo – Governor of the Year in Agriculture; governor of Anambra State, Prof. Charles Soludo – Governor of the Year in Urban Renewal), Barrister Festus Keyamo – Minister of the Year; Comrade Adams Oshiomhole – Senator of the Year; Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, GMD/CEO of UBA Plc, Mr. Oliver Alawuba – Banker of the Year; and Comptoller-General if the Nigeria Customs Service, Alhaji Bashir Adewale Adeniyi – Public Servant of the Year.
Former governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odilli, erstwhile governor of Osun State, Chief Bisi Akande and Otunba Mike Adenuga were conferred with Lifetime Achievement Award.
Prof. Fasina, a Fellow of the Soil Science Society of Nigeria,SSSN, and Horticultural Society of Nigeria, HORTSON, while thanking the Daily Independent Newspaper for considering him fit for the honour, said, “The award would certainly serve as an impetus and encouragement for us to do more. I give God the glory for granting us the enablement, strength and wisdom with which we worked to record the achievements that attracted this prestigious award from a highly esteemed and reputable media organisation, the Daily Independent Newspaper. It was God that made it possible. So, I dedicate this award to God Almighty first, and then to the entire university community – the students, staff, management team and governing council for their support. Without their support I would not have been able to achieve anything to qualify me for this award.”
The FUOYE Pro-Chancellor/Chairman Governing Council, distinguished Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, SAN, speaking on the Best Vice Chancellor Award bestowed on Prof. Fasina by the Daily Independent Newspaper, stated, “It is most reassuring. If you read the Visitation Report of the university up to the year 2020 then you will appreciate the enormous achievements of Professor Fasina in the last four years. He has given the university a definition and I have no doubt that his legacy will endure. I congratulate him on this award, which is not just well earned, but also well deserved.”
A prolific researcher and scholar of note with over 140 publications to his credit, and winner of several research grants, Prof. Fasina, had previously won several awards for his tireless efforts at transforming and repositioning the 14-year-old university for rapid growth and academic excellence.
Some of his previous awards include the Integrity Icon of Nigeria Award by a non-governmental organisation, NGO, Centre for Ethics and Self Value Orientation, CESVO, in 2022, Best Vice Chancellor Award 2023 by Digital Stardom Global Communications, South-West Nigeria Education Award, Outstanding Administrator Award and NANS Best Performing Vice-Chancellor in South-West Award.
