Communities In Ekiti Roll Out Drums To Celebrate FUTES VC, Aribisala

The Twenty Six Traditional Rulers, Chiefs and their subjects in Ikole Local Government rolled Out Drums to celebrate their Illustrious Son and Pioneer Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences, FUTES, Iyin Ekiti, Professor Gbenga Aribisala

The Traditional Rulers include the Onikoyi of Ikoyi Ekiti, Oba Akinwande Ogundana, Alamo of Ilamo Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Awoseyila, Olotunja of Ootunja Ekiti, Oba Adedeji Adeola, Elesun of Esun Ekiti, Oba Bankole Ilugbusi, Asaba of Isaba Ekiti Oba, Adeyanju Olasunkanmi, Regent Ijes-Isu Ekit, Abolaji Adeniyi, Owa of Odo-Ayedun, Oba Ajibade and Alasin of Asin Ekiti Oba Abraham Babalola.

Other dignitaries from the Academic environment include the Registrar, Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences, FUTES Iyin Ekiti, Mr Oluwole Dada, FUTES Bursar Mrs Rachael Ajayi, Emeritus Professor, Samuel Falaki, Dr. Ayo Olatunde EkSU, Professor Folorunso, while friends who are present and past political office Holders also graced the occasion among them were Technical Adviser to Ekiti State Governor, Mr Rotimi Faleye and Former Deputy Speaker, Ekiti State Assembly, Right Honourable Morakinyo Chairman, Ikole Local Government, Mr Bayo Omojola, Chairman, Kajola LCDA, Chief Adebayo Ajayi, Chairman, Ajoni LCDA, Prince Michael Ogungbemi and Chairman, Ikole West LCDA, Mrs.Mosunmola Adeyemo.

The well-attended Home Coming Programme in honour of Professor Gbenga Aribisala featured cultural dance from “Obirin-Ilu” meaning Women who are traditional Chiefs from across the twenty-six towns in Ikole Local Government with a chant in local dialect praying God to continue to prosper their children especially “Professor Aribisala and others whom God had lifted up and prospered in their various fields.

The Programme which was the first of its kind that the twenty-six towns making Ikole Local Government would gather to celebrate their Illustrious son, afforded many speakers on the occasion to emphasize the importance of unity, embracing the spirit of brotherliness and work to project the image of the Council area among the community of nations.

In his message of goodwill, the Olorigbo of Ijesa-Isu Ekiti, High Chief Kehinde Isikaye, used the forum to emphasise the need for people in Ikole Local Government to always embrace peace, unity and progress, saying only through love they could harness all the opportunities at the various levels of government and private organisations.

Chief Isikaye said,” Let us support our own children at various levels of authority. It is good to pray for them and shun all actions that could bring them down. Ikole Local Government has the unique human resources to place the council on a world map, like we are witnessing today”.t

The Chairman, Ikole Local Government, Mr Bayo Omojola described the FUTES Vice Chancellor as a pride of the council area and expressed confidence in his ability to bring about meaningful academic development at the new university, saying that the people of the local area would know it for good.

Speaking on behalf of traditional Rulers, the Obaloke of Igbona-Ekiti, Oba Johnson Oladele appreciated God that Professor Aribisala is from Ikole Local Government and urged sons and daughters to always work in unity and shun selfish interest which he said would not help to foster unity, saying that the people should rise and support those aspiring to occupy the position of authority.

Oba Oladele urged Professor Aribisala to see Ikole Local Government as one and always works to promote unity among the twenty-six towns in the council area as well as protecting the good name he has built for years through transparency.

In his response, the Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences FUTES Iyin Ekiti, Professor Gbenga Aribisala appreciated God and President Bola Tinubu for the grace to be the FUTES Pioneer Vice Chancellor and also thanked the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa for the favourable support he has been enjoying from the ministry since assumption of duty.

Professor Aribisala said that the vision and mission of his administration as a Vice Chancellor are cleared, saying that the university was read to offer education with guidance, to attract attention and admiration among the Commity of universities in Nigeria, especially Africa.

“Since the day I have been appointed as the VC, the university principals, including the Registrar, Bursar, the council members, have been working round the clock to ensure that the institution starts admission of students and also meets the global standard on education”.

He said that before the next month runs out, the university would release an advert for graduates to apply for job opportunities, emphasising that experienced hands would first be considered, while others follow, saying that this would help to place the FUTES academic activities on a sound footing.

He urged those who were peddling lies that the institutions had already recruited staff to desist from such, saying that both academic and non-academic activities would begin immediately NUC approved the necessary courses of study.

Professor Gbenga Aribisala maintained that” our people needed to be patient, there is no way the university can recruit without necessary approvals from the relevant authorities, presently we have not accessed funds, not to talk of recruiting staff”.

“Only the experienced hands would be first absorbed because we are relying on those who have something to offer for the university to rank among the best in the world within the shortest period, we have relevant experiences for meaningful take off, so there is no need to panic, the university would be recruiting yearly” said Prof Aribisala.

“This is a federal university, I don’t have the power to re-recruit only Ikole or Iyin Ekiti people, all we need to do is to follow the principles of federal character, embrace excellence to bring about the needed brain that would train and secure a good future for the society, especially the next generation”.

The FUTES Vice Chancellor said that once funds are released, work would start, and all would benefit from the goodies available in the university, while calling on well-meaning individuals and private organisations to come and invest in university education.

While appreciating the twenty-six communities for the honour done to him, Professor Aribisala promised to always accord the needed support for his people, especially traditional Rulers across the state.