By Sade Adewale, Ondo

The University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED) has invited the public to know that the allegations made by the Coalition of Ondo State Indigenes Against Corruption (COIAC) against the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Adesegun Fatusi, are baseless, untrue, and a mere figment of the protesters’ and their sponsors’ imaginations.

This was stated in a press release by the Public Relations Officer of the University, Mr. Isaac Oluyi. He said the University’s attention had been drawn to COIAC’s address, which contained wild allegations against the highly respected, honest, and transparent Vice Chancellor.

Oluyi explained, “To properly inform the public, it is important to address the charade that took place in Akure on Tuesday, 16th July 2024. This situation is not new. As far back as 2016, under the leadership of the pioneer VC of the University, there had been spurious allegations about high-handedness and lopsided appointments by faceless protesters operating under various unrecognized associations, aimed at distracting the institution from its core focus.”

He continued, “To corroborate this, Professor Okonofua, the pioneer VC of UNIMED, Ondo, stated on page 271 of his book Squeezing Water out of Stone that ‘Despite our transparent approach to governance, rumor-mongering and petitions still featured repeatedly, especially from disgruntled staff and greedy stakeholders whose evil intentions were not entertained by the university.'”

Oluyi added, “It is therefore not surprising to see the same method being used by these individuals disguised as stakeholders in the university’s affairs. We must not let this fester. Hence, the need to set the record straight.”

He emphasized that universities worldwide are meant to teach, research, and provide meaningful community service that contributes to sustainable development. Under Prof. Fatusi’s leadership, the University has excelled in these areas. Specifically, the University has become a leading institution for health sciences and medically related courses, despite infrastructural deficits and limited resources. It has established the first Faculty of Medical Rehabilitation in West Africa, the first full-fledged School of Public Health in Nigeria, and many other groundbreaking programs.

Oluyi highlighted that accusations of nepotism are unfounded. Of the 307 junior staff employed by UNIMED as of December 2023, 235 (76.5%) are from Ondo State, while only 4 (1.3%) are from Ogun State, the VC’s state of origin. None of the 4 is from the VC’s Local Government Area. The selection of academic and senior non-academic staff is based on merit and competence.

He questioned the source of the allegations about nepotism, describing them as reductive and misguided. These individuals, who know little about the university’s operations, have accused a man of untainted integrity of corruption.

Oluyi urged the public to be wary of these detractors, who are seen as agents of destabilization. He praised the Vice-Chancellor’s achievements over the past four years and four months, which have put the university on a progressive trajectory. He also commended successive governments for their understanding of the university’s role in fostering diverse academic ideas.

Finally, Oluyi reiterated that the allegations are baseless and a figment of the protesters’ imaginations. The University plans to hold a press conference soon to showcase Prof. Adesegun Fatusi’s achievements, asserting that his reputation remains untarnished.