Nine outstanding students of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) have floored students from several other universities in the country to emerge winners of two scholarship awards, namely UNESCO International Centre for Biotechnology and Oba Dr. Enitan Ogunwusi Adeyeye, Ooni of Ife scholarship awards, 2022.
While Oke Emmanuel Omotola, a final year student of the Department of Theatre and Media Arts, FUOYE, emerged the second best among 15 students from various universities who won the Ooni of Ife scholarship awards,
Tijani Abdulmalik Damilare, from Physics Department, also made the list of the 15 awardees.
The other seven, Oluwaseun Aletile, David Oyerinde, Bunkumi Odukoya, Oluwaseun Ajayi, Eniola Alabi, Temidayo Olofinlade and Ayenigba Emmanuel Oluwaseyi, made the Ivory Tower greatly proud by getting scholarship awards from the UNESCO International Centre for Biotechnology at the Nigerian National Merit Award Secretariat, Abuja, on April 1st, 2022.
More significant about the outstanding performance of these academic wizards is the fact that FUOYE alone had produced six out of the 10 undergraduate Nigerian students who were awarded by the global body. The seventh of them, Ayenigba, from the Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology,
is a post graduate student of FUOYE.
UNESCO International Centre for Biotechnology is an arm of the United Nations and in its bid to promote scientific discovery among university students across the world, it called for scholarship applications from eligible students last year.
The scholarship opportunity was opened to Bachelor of Science (BSc), Master of Science (MSc) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) holders all over the world and thirteen FUOYE students, twelve from the department of Biochemistry and a graduate student from the department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, registered for the opportunity around the 4th of November, 2021.
The six winning FUOYE undergraduates are all in 400 level of the Department of Biochemistry and they revealed that they had the opportunity to participate in the scholarship programme through encouragement from their department.
The students said further that they would eternally be grateful to the Management of FUOYE, ably led by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina, for providing enabling teaching and learning environment which prepared them for the task.
Speaking about the academic feat by Oke from the faculty of Arts, the Dean of the faculty, Prof. Tajudeen Bolanle Opoola said: ”
Through the calls for submission of the University’s Director of Academic Planning, (DAP) Dr. Chika Asogwa, a selection process involving the Head of Departments whose students are now in 400 level in the Faculty of Arts was put in place and coordinated by the Dean of this Faculty, Prof. B.T. Opoola.
“The Departments’ Examination Officers’ submissions stood out the student that represented this Faculty for an on line Examination conducted by the organizer of the Award Examination. Oke has 4.86 CGPA as his 300 level University Senate approved released result, 2019/2020.This thus put him ahead of other candidates from the rest of the Departments in Arts faculty.
“Along with submissions from other Faculties in Fuoye by DAP, the stage was set for the selection examination. The Dean contacted the candidate on phone to inform him of the Examination in addition to his formal invitation by the organizers of the project.
“To God be the glory, our candidate came second after the examination and won the scholarship award. We achieved this feat with the relentless efforts of the following loyal officers, 1, Rev. Sister Dr. Chika, Asogwa, The DAP, Dr. Mrs. Lilian Bakare, Deputy Dean Arts and Ag. Hod, TMA, Dr. Ariremako, Ag.HOD, Linquistics & Languages , Dr. Farinde, Ag.HOD , English & Literary S,tidied, Dr. Paul Akanmidu, Ag.HOD, History & International Studies and the Examination Officers of the above listed Departments especially, award winning Dr. Uzor of Theatre and Media Arts.
The achievement became possible with the provison of the conducive environment devoid of rancour by the Vice-Chancellor of this great citadel of learning, Prof. Sunday Abayomi, Fasina whose impact are daily felt in the Faculty of Arts since his assumption of office as VC in Feb. 2021. We owe you nothing but our sincere prayers that you continue to wax stronger as our CEO.
“In the spirit of Easter and Ramadan, we once again give Glory to God and thank everyone that contributed to the success recorded on this project. Our children will also receive God’s favor where ever they are and whenever they need any, amen. ”
Also speaking about the performance by his faculty students, Prof.A. A Ajiboye, Dean of the Faculty of Science, said: ” We are very glad as a faculty to have outstanding students that make us proud at all times in their various academic engagement. We have just witnessed one of such engagement where our students in the faculty of science made us proud in UNESCO competition.
The performance of the students is a true reflection of the inputs and skills acquired in the classrooms and laboratories by the qualified members of the academic staff we have in the faculty. This also attests to the good leadership skills and styles of Mr Vice – Chancellor for providing necessary equipment and materials needed to teach students across levels in the classrooms and Laboratories of the faculty. Hence, we are much grateful to the Vice Chancellor for giving us good learning condition and condusive environment for young scholars to thrive and surpass their counterparts in other universities in Nigeria.”