Seven years after it was established, the Federal University, Oye Ekiti (FUOYE), has been accredited to offer postgraduate studies.

The courses, according to the Acting Registrar of the school, Mrs Oyeyimika Koyejo-Fasakin, are in eight key programs in the three departments of Agriculture, Social Science and Arts and offers students opportunities for Master’s and Doctorate degrees.

The courses are Agriculture Economics, Animal Science, Crop Science and Soil science in the department of Agriculture. Others are English Language and English Literature; Theatre Arts; Sociology; as well as Demographics and Social Statistics.

The Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye Ekiti, Professor Kayode Soremekun, said the introduction of post graduate studies was an affirmation of one of the goals he set for himself when he was appointed to head the school two years ago.

He also explained that the programme was designed to shred open the myth behind postgraduate programmes run by other Nigerian universities.

“We intend to take the sting out of the postgraduate school,” Soremekun said Thursday in a statement. “By this, I mean we will not delay students unduly beyond the stipulated time for the programmes and we will not compromise on quality.”

Soremekun, who had handled postgraduate studies in several universities in Nigeria and the United States, said there was no need to unduly elongate postgraduate programmes – especially as Nigeria is in need of qualified professionals to teach in new universities springing up across the country.

“The introduction of this programme is a fulfillment of the pledge of the Federal Government, which is provide access to education to all those who seek it so that Nigeria will be a better place. The cost in time and resources is not prohibitive as we are determined to provide access to quality postgraduate education for our students,” he said.

Soremekun, who has received many post-graduate and post-doctoral qualifications from several international institutions, was appointed Vice Chancellor of the FUOYE in 2016.

A Fulbright scholar, Soremekun is also a Rockefeller and Ford Foundation fellow.

“I owe a lot to the energy and drive of the last dean of the postgraduate school, Rasaki Ojo Bakare. Now since we have opened our doors to postgraduate students, we will ensure that they receive the best teaching and research support to excel,” Soremekun said.

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