The Governing Council of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) has officially announced the appointment of Professor Ogunwole Joshua Olalekan as the institution’s fifth substantive Vice-Chancellor.
The announcement was made on Thursday by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Council, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, during a press briefing held in Abuja. Ndoma-Egba described the selection as “meticulous, transparent, and digitally driven,” emphasizing that every stage of the process was conducted with integrity.
“The entire exercise was fully digitalized. Applications were submitted online, and the system handled the initial assessment. However, we ensured manual verification to confirm details like academic qualifications and fellowships,” Ndoma-Egba explained.
He further revealed that the search for a new Vice-Chancellor began in February 2025, following statutory procedures that required a six-week public advertisement in major national newspapers.
“Every word of that advertisement was debated and approved by the Council. At the end of the process, we received 64 online applications,” he said.
According to Ndoma-Egba, the final six shortlisted candidates were vetted by the Department of State Services (DSS) in Ekiti State before the Council made its final decision.
“After a rigorous and transparent selection, the Council unanimously approved Professor Ogunwole Joshua Olalekan as the new Vice-Chancellor of FUOYE,” he added.
Professor Ogunwole holds his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. His professional career began between 1990 and 1992 as the Manager of Yula Farms in Kaduna.
He later joined the Federal University, Dutsin-Ma, where he lectured in the Department of Crop Production and Protection from 2013 to 2016, also serving as the Director of University Advancement and Linkages.
A distinguished Professor of Soil Physics, Ogunwole is currently with FUOYE’s Department of Soil Science and Land Resource Management. Before his new appointment, he served as the Vice-Chancellor of Bowen University. He is expected to assume duties at FUOYE in February 2026.
The selection process had generated tension within FUOYE in recent months. A group of concerned staff members had petitioned the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, calling for a suspension of the exercise. They alleged irregularities and claimed that the process was being hastily concluded by the governing council.
Despite these controversies, the Council insists that due process was strictly followed and that the final choice reflects the university’s commitment to excellence and transparency.
Professor Ogunwole’s appointment marks a new chapter for FUOYE as the institution seeks to consolidate its academic growth and administrative stability.
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