Sir: Former United States Secretary of State, Henry A. Kissinger, makes a profound statement about the mission of a vision-driven leader, saying, “the task of a leader is to get his people from where they are to where they ought to be”. Examining the same concept, a leading expert on leadership, John C. Maxwell says, “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.”
Interestingly, these are the two dominant ideas currently playing out at the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE); where the new leader, the fifth substantive Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Joshua Olalekan Ogunwole is not only taking the university to where it ought to be, but clearly telling all those who care to listen that he knows the way, having had experience of successfully leading Bowen University for five years as a VC in the past, therefore, showing the community of scholars the way to go.
Prof. Ogunwole who assumed duties on Wednesday, February 11, 2026 is currently unfolding what he calls “the new face of FUOYE” where, according to him, sentiments must yield to common sense, and bullying, along with every form of violence and gangsterism must bow before the altar of public interest”.
A man of exceptional intellectual clairvoyance; whose voice carries a strong and special resonance, has clearly begun to change the operational processes and methodologies in the institution from mundane, medieval analogue to the robust and elegant digital platform. For instance, when I thought I had made a strong case for my Directorate of Public Affairs and Communication (DIPAC), to resuscitate the daily newspapers buying, “Coach”, as he is being fondly called, pointedly told me to go digital, saying “the university is going paperless in the next five years.”
Sadly, for a concatenation of circumstances, FUOYE had in time past, been in the news for some wrong reasons. Ogunwole paints the picture better than I could have done. His words: “There had been reports of declining civility, erosion of decorum, manifestation of impunity, and conduct unbecoming of a scholarly community. Disturbingly, behaviours inconsistent with the values of academia; ranging from confrontational posturing and verbal aggression to open disregard for constituted authority, have at times found expression within our governance process. In some instances, individuals, and occasionally, groups operating under institutional platforms, have engaged in actions that weakened discipline, order, and respect for due process.”
“Let me state clearly and unequivocally: such conducts will no longer be tolerated”, Ogunwole declares, sounding modernist and progressive, just as he poises to chart a future rich in promises and possibilities. Since his assumption of office, however, he has not left anyone in doubt as to where he intends to take FUOYE.
He has been initiating several measures aimed at fulfilling his vision for FUOYE, just as he has been meeting various groups and stakeholders, sharing his agenda and selling his programmes of rebuilding, rehabilitation, reconstruction and reconciliation. In one of the meetings, hear him: “My predecessor, Prof. Sunday Abayomi Fasina was a fantastic leader. He really tried his best for this university, his achievements are not in doubt. But, we have got to build on Prof. Fasina’s achievements. We have to take FUOYE far higher than we met it.”
Sunday Saanu, PhD, is the Director, Public Affairs and Communication (DIPAC), Federal University Oye-Ekiti.
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