By Yusuf Adua
The 16th of May has been held in high regard since 2014 by every individual associated with Emanuel Alayande College of Education (EACOED) Oyo as feathers of excitement flew again when Dr Rasak Adefabi marked his seventh year in office as the College Provost.
In a release by Mr. Wale Adeoye, Special Assistant on Media Matters to the Provost, dated 16 May 2021 and made available to News Live Nigeria, Dr. Adefabi has been working doggedly to move the College to higher grounds leaving no stone unturned since he assumed office in 2014.
The release titled “Rasak Adefabi: Seven (7) Years Journey Through Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo” described the Iseyin-born technocrat as a quintessential leader whose relentless efforts in the area of human empowerment and development are above bounds owing to his administration’s funding of numerous workshops, seminars and conferences for staff and students both within and outside the shore of the country.
The statement reads,
“Among the giant strides recorded by his administration include:
i. The attainment of full accreditation status by the College for all its academic programmes across the six schools by the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) and National Universities Commission (NUC) for the College Degree programmes in affiliation with Ekiti State University (EKSU).
ii. Establishment of a state-of-the-art Computer Systems Centre with full access to the Internet
iii. Change in the names of Schools to reflect NCCE standard
iv. As at 2019 NCCE evaluation, Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo is rated 8th among Colleges of Education in the Federation, 2nd among State Colleges of Education, and 1st, in the South-West.
v. Establishment of the College Academic Planning Department in line with NCCE directive
vi. Construction of modern edifice learning structures which copiously addressed the Covid-19 challenges. ”
The statement further stressed that the courageous, skillful leader, Dr. Adefabi seized the opportunity to change the scheme of things in the institution for the better with the establishment of solid revenue-generating ventures such as Table Water Production Business, Functional Bakery, Agricultural Venture and EACOED Nursery and Primary School among others.
The Provost also seamlessly integrated the School of Vocational and Technical Education the mother campus in Erelu, Oyo through a seemingly painless movement of both students and staff thereby procuring necessary infrastructural needs to make the procession hitch-free, one Mr. Saheed Agboluaje, a regular degree student won an International Award of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry 2019 competition held in Paris with dollar rewards during Adefabi’s reign.
According to the statement, kudos should also be poured on the Provost looking at his skilful management of labour unions with diplomacy and attending to their requests towards moving the College forward as well as how several contract staff have been upgraded and successfully brought into the mainstream of the College without undue publicity, advocacy or show of praises.
The Provost spokesman justified that all the successes would not have been recorded if not for the unwavering support of the Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde, who has consistently paid staff salaries since he came on board, that, which the SA, Media said has breathed a satisfying working Zephyr in and around the college.
On the staffers of the College, the 14th Governing Council ably led by Prof. Matthew Odedokun, the statement said they have been very wonderful in their unalloyed support towards seeing that the Adefabi-led Management succeeds.
Mr. Wale Adeoye did pray that God continue to stand firm by the Provost in his remaining year in office.
