Resolve Crisis in the University System , Catholic Bishop Tells FG, ASUU

The Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Rev Felix Ajakaye, has appealed to the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU and the Federal Government to resolve the lingering crisis that has led to the closure of all public Universities in the interest of the students, Parents and the country. He made the call at the funeral mass held in honour of the  of the immediate past Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure Late Professor Adebiyi Daramola on Friday April 22 at St Peters Catholic Church Okemesi , Ekiti State . In his homily the Bishop Said the fight between two elephants, ASUU and the Federal Government, is causing serious discomfort and suffering and uncertainty among students and parents. He appealed to both sides to resolve the crisis in the interest of the students and future of the country. “Students, parents and the country are being adversely affected because of the fight between ASUU and FG. Both sides should devise a new way to resolve the crisis and save the country’s University system”. He said the time has come for “the managers of the country and Nigerians in general to have the right attitude and get our priorities right.” 

Speaking on Professor Daramola, who served as the Vice Chancellor of FUTA between May 2012 and May 2017, Rev Ajakaye described him as a God fearing person who made his mark in the world of academic and contributed immensely to the development of his country. ‘Let’s do good and leave good legacies. Daramola was a courteous and courageous person. He was humble; he reflected his good up bringing in his relationships with people. He left worthy legacies of excellent services in all his station in life and particularly at FUTA where His legacies live on,” the Bishop said.  

Before the funeral, a Commendation Service was held in the honour of Daramola at the Obafemi Awolowo Auditorium of FUTA on Thursday April 21, 2022 where the Catholic Bishop of Ondo Diocese, Rev Jude Arogundade said the former Vice Chancellor played important role in FUTA, Nigeria and in the global arena. ”He went through many ups and downs , he had his own crisis , sometimes we may think that it’s the man who is in charge that has problem without minding the roles we play.  Prof Daramola was not perfect, but he gave the system his best and contributed immensely to the development of FUTA and the country’s University system,” Arogundade said.

In his oration at the ceremony , the incumbent Vice Chancellor, Professor Joseph Fuwape, highlighted the many contributions of Daramola saying FUTA and the academic world would miss the erudite scholar. According to Fuwape, “Professor Daramola served as the sixth substantive Vice Chancellor of the University from May 2012 to May 2017. He consolidated on the gains of his predecessors and charted new frontiers of development particularly in the areas of rebranding, internationalization, as well as renewal of critical infrastructure. He succeeded in “Taking FUTA to the Market Place”, as he articulated in the blueprint which he created for the development of the University in 2012 prior to his appointment as Vice Chancellor. He leveraged on his cosmopolitan connections to attract collaborators to the University in the form of advancement in academic programmes and infrastructural development. Professor Daramola as an erudite scholar and researcher also contributed immensely to national and international development through several diverse engagements with Government, industries, national and international organizations. He concurrently held the positions of Chairman, Committee of Vice Chancellors (CVC) and Association of Vice Chancellor of Nigerian Universities (AVCNU) between 2015 and 2017.” He described the death of Daramola as a “big blow to human capital of FUTA, Nigerian University System, academia and our dear nation, Nigeria.”

At the ceremony, a childhood friend of the departed Vice Chancellor and current President of the African Development Bank, Dr Akinwumi Adesina sent in a moving tribute via video feed. “Your brilliance was clear to all ever since we were together at Ibadan Polytechnic, and also together as classmates at the University of Ife. You were our pride when you got elected as Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA).  You contributed greatly to making FUTA what it is today, with your usual honesty, penchant for professionalism, uncompromising integrity, doggedness, vision, passion, and drive for excellence. I am at a complete loss of what to say now to your dear wife and your loving and caring children. We have lost a wonderful friend and colleague. Your life and how you lived with impeccable integrity, and Godly faith, will always remain an inspiration. You left a legacy of truth, godliness, kindness, generosity and care for all your friends,” Adesina said in the tribute  

Professor Daramola died on Friday March 25 at the age of 64.