FUOYE Students and Staff Protest Against VC and Council Chair

Tensions are rising at the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE). Many students and youth leaders from Ekiti State paused their studies and daily tasks today to join a peaceful demonstration on campus.

This protest followed an announcement from the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Ekiti State Chapter. They called on all youth and students in the state to participate in the peaceful protest set for today, Monday, November 3, 2025. They declared a state of emergency, citing administrative injustice, impunity, and an unhealthy alliance between the university’s Governing Council Chairman, Senator Ndoma-Egba, and the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abayomi Fasina.

The NYCN had sent several petitions to President Bola Tinubu, the Minister of Education, various anti-corruption agencies, security organizations, and other relevant authorities. They highlighted concerns over the moral decline and disregard for the rule of law shown by FUOYE’s Vice-Chancellor and the Council Chairman.

Protesters carried placards with messages like “Enough of corruption in FUOYE; Moral decay under Prof. Abayomi Fasina is killing our morale; VC Fasina has become a Professor of Injustice; The alliance between Prof. Abayomi Fasina and Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba is harming FUOYE’s academic integrity; Tinubu, suspend FUOYE VC, Prof. Abayomi Fasina now; Remove Council Chairman, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba; Tinubu, investigate sexual scandals and punish those responsible; Suspend the ongoing manipulated VC selection process at FUOYE now.”

During the protest, which included members and leaders of the Association of Southern Nigeria Youth Congress (ASNYC), NYCN Chairman, Amb. James Bankole stated that the current situation is a monumental crisis that threatens to dismantle FUOYE.

He remarked that the corruption, fiscal irresponsibility, and moral decline linked with the Council Chairman, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, and the outgoing Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina, pose an emergency that threatens the future of Nigerian youth.

Amb. James Bankole expressed that the Governing Council has been misused for personal gain and impunity.

“This is not governance. It is an operation focused on financial exploitation.”

“The Council Chairman has repeatedly ignored ministerial directives by moving all Council meetings and the ongoing Vice-Chancellorship selection process to Abuja.”

“This action represents a gross misappropriation of public funds, wasting millions of Naira on unnecessary travel, accommodations, and allowances while the university struggles to finance essential accreditation and pay overdue staff salaries.”

“This is financial sabotage against the Nigerian state.”

Amb. James Bankole questioned the legitimacy of the ₦128 million “research leave” given to the outgoing VC, calling it unprecedented in the history of academia.

He also criticized the ₦700 million property purchases approved under questionable conditions and at inflated prices. He pointed out that the council has turned the university into a way to profit at the expense of students and staff.

According to Amb. Bankole, the NYCN, opposes the current process for appointing a new vice-chancellor.

He stated that the timeline, which compresses the assessment of over 100 candidates into just two days, is an illegal manipulation aimed at getting a predetermined result and installing a successor who will continue corrupt practices.

“This rushed procedure undermines transparency and is a disgrace to meritocracy.”

He expressed discontent over what he called the institutionalization of sexual exploitation and abuse at FUOYE.

He remarked that the Council, led by Senator Ndoma-Egba, has worked against justice and protected offenders.

“The NYCN sees this as a direct threat to the safety and educational future of Nigerian youth.

“We are very concerned about the sexual harassment claims made by Engr. Folashade Adebayo against the Vice Chancellor, a case that was quickly suppressed by the Council Chairman to avoid embarrassment.”

“We also highlight the shocking case of Dr. Agbegbedia, a VC mentee, who failed a female student for rejecting his sexual advances.

“An external panel cleared the student, yet the VC protected the offender and rewarded his misconduct.

“We demand justice for the victims of Dr. Segun Larayetan, who is accused of rape and sexual exploitation, using his authority to keep a female student from graduating to continue his abuse.

“The moral and psychological toll on students and staff, especially women, is significant.

“The reality that the VC, whose ethics are severely compromised, continues to oversee the selection of his successor is unacceptable.

“We, representatives of Nigerian youth, cannot stand by as our academic institutions decline and our students remain unprotected.

“We declare that the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Ekiti Chapter, along with the Association of Southern Nigeria Youth Congress, will set up our headquarters at the FUOYE Main Campus effective today, Monday, November 3, 2025.

“We urge all Nigerian students, youth organizations, and concerned individuals to join us in a large and peaceful demonstration on campus.

“We will stay until every demand is met.”

The youth organisation’s demands from President Tinubu and relevant authorities include:

Immediate suspension of Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina pending investigation.
Constitute an independent, non-partisan panel to urgently revisit and investigate all outstanding sexual harassment and abuse cases, specifically those involving Dr. Agbegbedia and Dr. Larayetan, and mandate recommendations for justice and prosecution.
Immediate removal of Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN) as Pro-Chancellor and Council Chairman for corruption, fraud, and insubordination.
Suspension of all current Council activities related to the Vice Chancellorship process.
Constitution of a neutral interim governing council to oversee the transition and restore stability.
A comprehensive forensic audit of FUOYE’s finances, property acquisitions, and Council expenditure since 2021.
Restoration of lawful governance on campus, with all Council activities returned to FUOYE immediately.
Legal protection for all whistleblowers and union leaders exposing corruption