New FUTA VC inaugurated

PROFESSOR Adeola Fuwape of Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) was on Wednesday inaugurated as the seventh substantive Vice Chancellor of the institution with a promise to rearrange the academic culture of the institution.

Fuwape who succeeded Prof Adebiyi Daramola after the completion of his five year tenure also promised to carry all the stakeholders along “to build a new FUTA of our own dream”

He called on the staff of the institution to embrace peace in order to give room to development and take the school an enviable height urging the workers to remain focus in their quest to make FUTA one of the best university in the country.

He said “We are starting a new chapter in the progressive development of our dear University. I charge us as a community of enlightened people to collectively allow peace, tranquillity and harmony to reign supreme in FUTA.

“It is only when we allow this to happen that we can focus on how to make our University the first among equals in the comity of Universities in Nigeria.

“As the 7th substantive Vice-Chancellor of FUTA, I will do everything God lays at my disposal to carry every stakeholder along. I declare that I belong to every union on this campus including the students’ union for the next five years without prejudice to my primary constituency as a member of Academic Staff Union of Universities, FUTA Branch.

“FUTA as a family University must operate as one and we must not allow individual differences to create divisions among us.”

The new Vice chancellor however highlighted his vision to strive to make FUTA to be the number one port of call and choice for students and scholars.

“To achieve this, the quality of our teaching and research must measure up to the best practices in the world and our physical landscape upgraded to maintain the lead in campus beauty.

“I am unequivocally determined to provide exemplary leadership – the type that welcomes suggestions and sound ideas. Our commitment to transparency, probity and accountability would be strong, while merit, freedom and participatory decision making would be embraced.

“It is therefore our joint responsibility to align together in order to realize my vision for FUTA and make it a reference point for academic productivity and research excellence.

“In this regard, I covet your prayers, team spirit, loyalty, unflinching support and commitment to the development of FUTA. As the saying goes, “two good heads are better than one”; I enjoin you to please feel free to share your ideas on how to take FUTA to the next level with me.”

The outgoing VC, Daramola described the emergence of Prof Fuwape of the Department of Forestry and Wood Technology as round peg in a round hole, soliciting support for the new VC,  saying all hands need to be on deck more than ever before to drive the University to the promised land.

He highlighted the achievements recorded by the institution during his tenure and attributed the success of his tenure to the support he received from all member of staff of the institution.

“It can only be told in modest term that during the period of my stewardship, FUTA through the grace of God was able to take a giant leap by recording resounding success in all facets of academic, human and infrastructural development.

Earlier, the Pro Chancellor and the Chairman of the Governing Council of the institution, Senator Joseph Waku, warned all the unions in the University to stop taking laws into their hands.

Waku who do not rule out misunderstanding within the system, urged them to always channel their grievances to appropriate quarters for possible resolution.

According to Waku, “This institution belong to you, do not take laws into your hands. Direct your grievances to the appropriate channels for possible solution.

“Within the family, we do have misunderstanding. When you have disagreement, there is a constituted authority to channel the grievances to. There is always going to be a misunderstanding. The ability to resolve it is what we will be looking forward to. ”