Civil Societies frown at low media reports of FUOYE’s progress

The leadership of Civil Society Groups has blamed authorities of Federal University, Oye Ekiti (FUOYE) for not properly promoting and sensitising the public regarding achievements and progress of the Institution.

A coalition of Civil Societies called Civil Society Groups for Good Governance, led by Olufemi Lawson, Secretary, Movement Against Corruption (MAC) expressed displeasure at what it noted as low level of awareness among the public in respect of “very commendable performance of the administration of this university”.

Lawson, alongside six others, at a meeting last weekend with the vice chancellor, Prof. Kayode Soremekun, explained their mission was primarily to clarify allegations against the Institution in a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, copy of which came to the body, principally in respect of breaches of procurement and contract award procedures.

Others who came with Lawson included Amb. Muktar Akosile, President, Africa Youth Patriotic & Development Mission (AVPDM); Basat Mohammed, Director of Communications, Transparency and Accountability Initiatives; Amb Nelon Ossaieze, Executive Director, African Leadership Strategy and Transparency Development Initiative; Com Lilian Cosmos, Network of Young Female Leaders of Excess Community; Omokhagbor Michael, Bureau of Public Service Initiative; and Olubayo Fisayo, Public Service Watch.

Speaking after a tour of facilities and project sites in the Institution, representatives of the civil society groups expressed their dismay at the level of infrastructural developments and academic progress in the school, which they regarded as largely unknown to and concealed from the public.

Urging the institution to turn over a new leaf regarding media promotions of the Institution’s activities, particularly in respect of completed and ongoing projects and available facilities and opportunities, Lawson maintained “Media works are not to exaggerate or lie about performances. In sensitising the people, supports for the Institution will be aided among concerned stakeholders, while parents and guardians would be better guided in their choices for their wards.”

According to them, the visit was in agreement with federal government posturing on probity, transparency and accountability, more so as consequences of financial infractions in an academic establishment would bear directly on learners, especially concerning quality of teaching and learning.

Facilities visited by the Group included the Central Administration Building (over 80% completed); 500-Seater Lecture Theatre built with IGR; 3-In-1Central Laboratory and the Multipurpose Arts Theartre.

Lawson’s words: “This visit is not about exposing or witch-hunting anyone. It is about the integrity of Nigerian education system. In all fairness, the impression I had was the conventional Nigerian university at the early stages of development, still battling with makeshift structures. But here I met a very well advanced Institution.

“But we indict you because you are denying Nigerians knowledge about what you are doing here. I have been to other similar institutions, but here you have structures that you can put forward anywhere and they will stand as evidences of achievement and performance. Good media supports is not about projecting you, but the image you represent,” Lawson said.

Basat explained that what the visitors saw would help them change their impression and course, adding that despite paltry resources, “the authorities of FUOYE had recorded outstanding achievements”.

Prof Soremekun who admitted he had been a bit unenthusiastic about media shows in respect of the Institution’s progress under his administration, noted the common practice lately is for Chief Executives of organisations to inundate the media with any little accomplishment, a shortcoming he had decided to avoid.

According to him, the completed projects upon which developments in the University now rest were inherited by him, noting it would not make any point to abandon such critical projects being abandoned at their very early stages, in the name of paucity of finances.

He clarified he had always honoured processes and procedures as laid down in the procurement act, noting three proposals had always been sourced from contractors in respect of available contracts, and that all contracts had always gone through normal processes before being awarded on the basis of competence and track record of performance.

On the purported ‘sack’ of the Institution’s Registrar, Mr. D. A. Adeyemo, the VC said he (Adeyemo) had been lying about being sacked, maintaining that “The Council and Management of FUOYE have not dismissed or terminated the appointment of Mr. Adeyemo. He appeared before a properly constituted Council Committee which investigated a petition written against him and found him culpable.”

The VC spoke: “Mr Adeyemo is on annual leave, and is still entitled to all his rights as a staff of the University. Please note that Mr Adeyemo had not gone on his annual leave since 2011 when the University was established. As we speak, he is still enjoying all privileges, including his official car and driver.”

By Gbenga Sodeinde, Ado-Ekiti