FUOYE Alumnus Urges Peace as VC Resumes after six-month Leave Amid Sexual-harassment Allegations

The president of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) Alumni Association, Temitope Elijah Arogundade, has appealed for peace and unity within the university community as Vice-Chancellor Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina prepares to resume office on October 14 following a six-month leave. Arogundade, in a statement to journalists over the weekend, urged alumni and stakeholders to put the reputation of the institution above all else, stressing the importance of maintaining stability ahead of the ongoing process to select a substantive successor when Fasina’s five-year tenure ends in February 2026. He commended the vice-chancellor’s record, noting advancements in ICT, academic development, and institutional growth under his leadership. Professor Fasina had applied for 11 months of accumulated leave earlier this year, but the university’s Governing Council approved six months instead, during which Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Professor Olubunmi Shittu, served in acting capacity. Officials maintained the leave was granted for academic and research purposes. The vice-chancellor’s absence came against the backdrop of a sexual-harassment scandal that stirred controversy within the university. He was accused by former Director of Works, Engineer Folashade Adebayo, of harassment and victimisation, allegations that were investigated by the Governing Council. Fasina was eventually cleared, with the council criticising the method used to record conversations and directing the accuser to apologise. While the matter drew criticism from some quarters who felt the investigation was mishandled, alumni leadership has now called for restraint, urging staff, students, and the wider university community to work together to safeguard FUOYE’s reputation as Fasina resumes duty and the institution prepares for leadership transition.