Prof. (Mrs.) Olayinka Ramota Karim is the 4th substantive the Vice Chancellor of Fountain University, Osogbo (FUO), established by the Nasrul-lahi-li Fatih Society in 2007. It is one of the private universities in Nigeria that offers diverse undergraduate programmes.
Prof. Karim thus became the first female Muslim to be appointed Vice-Chancellor in Nigeria. Before her new appointment, she was the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Ilorin, Nigeria. She spoke recently at a function organised by NASFAT in Lagos.
In her presentation before the audience at a special annual Iftar (Break of fast) with the media, Prof. Karim said she desires to develop the university into an admirable university nationally and internationally, where competent and resourceful graduates with high moral standards irrespective of race, tribe, religion, or political inclinations are developed.
Speaking further, emphasised that her vision is to significantly increase student enrolment and improve the internally generated funds, improve physical development for powering a true self-sustaining university for national and global visibility.
She captured her vision designed to achieve the vision and rebranding of FUO with utmost attention to the motto of the university: “Knowledge, Faith and Leadership” under a seven-point strategy. These are excellent curriculum and scholarship; improved student enrolment; sustainable fund generation and management; enriched digitisation and internationalization; Enhanced staff and students’ development and welfare; Good university governance and vibrant community service.
Expatiating on the curriculum and scholarship vision, Prof. Karim Curriculum and Scholarship, the VC explained that the objective is to provide full-bodied learner-centred education that can enhance effective and innovative teaching and breakthroughs where the students will meet the challenge to grow as individuals while they prepare to thrive in their careers and to make long-term and meaningful contributions to our society.
She explained that this will be achieved by seeking the improvement of existing teaching, laboratory, and learning facilities, maintaining and expanding the concept of Centralized Laboratories while also upgrading the Departmental ones, increasing staff in external grant activity, ensuring the provision of learning resources like courseware, enhance employability of the students, through soft skills, entrepreneurship, ICT training, endure effective industry-academy relationship, formation of active, well-equipped, specialized research teams/groups; and thorough quality-assured recruitment of staff.
On strategy to increase students’ enrolment from the current 19 programmes run by the College of Natural and Applied Sciences (CONAS), College of Management and Social Sciences (COMAS), College of Basic Medical and Health Sciences and College of Law said existing academic programmes will be enriched, the introduction of demand-driven programmes, Sandwich Executive MBA and weekend programmes.
She said the synergy that exists with all NASFAT schools and more secondary schools will be further strengthened to serve as feeders for the institution as well as create a wide awareness about the potential and strength of the University.
Emphasising the imperative of Information Communication Technology as a major driver of the global education sector, Prof. Karim said existing ICT facilities will be improved; upgrade the university website, the institution of an innovation hub to enhance students’ creativity and inventions; industry linkage linkages across Department, Faculties and exchanges with universities at home and abroad and research institutes.
According to her staff, student development and welfare will be accorded priority through vibrant staff development, training and retraining of staff on pedagogy, robust online learning and through vibrant student welfare in hotel accommodation, recreation development, and stimulation of a student-centred learning and friendly campus and work-study initiative.
Speaking on funding, the VC said, “The objective is to boost revenue tremendously through admirable Internal Fund Generation and Management, reduce wastage, and get value for money by fashioning new sources of income from endowments/gifts/ donations/chairs targeting multinationals, Foundations, and Alumni and novel approaches, strengthening all the university ventures and fashioning new ones in line with the university policy, motivating aggressive research grants on topical issues and attracting funds from agencies and grants opportunities.”
Other strategies are to engage the Alumni of the University either by individuals or groups or the entire membership to generate funds, creation of a University Advancement Unit for a funding drive, seeking for support from corporate organizations, industries, and individuals from home and abroad; and cutting back on wastage and revenue leakages through a due process procedure in procurement and other expenditure.
To ensure a robust town and gown relationship, the VC said will be positively and visibly strengthened to impact NASFAT, the University’s immediate communities, Nigeria’ and the global community by building ‘organic bridges between Industries, NGOs, Towns, and FUO to ensure that research works are not just academic, but are useful to the industry, through proper, appropriate, sustainable, and effective industry-academy relationships.
“Introduce Community-Based Schemes to promote staff and student giving back to the community; and strengthen periodic public lectures, research days, town and gown synergy, and other innovative ways of giving back to the community.
She assured that her administration will operate an open and transparent administration with robust communication and dialogue with all stakeholders, adhere to due process, accountability, and transparency where value for money would be the watchword; and heighten the image, public perception, and ranking of the University.
Speaking on her achievements since March, Prof Karim listed her accomplishments to include, “Development of new Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standard (CCMAS) as directed by NUC for all the 19 existing academic programmes.
“Preparation for the commencement of College of Arts and Education in 2023/2024 academic session and establishment of Centre for Research, Innovation and Technology (FUCRIT) with five units; incubation unit, research support and grants management; FUO- industry and community linkages; research ethics and safety unit; NASFAT-FOUNTAIN UNIVERSITY Research Resource unit.
“The Federal government through the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy earmarked Fountain University as one of the beneficiaries of the broadband infrastructure for tertiary and higher-level institutions across the country, the establishment of greening and beautification club to improve the aesthetic appearance of the university environment.
“Donation of 50 sitting capacity seat-out at histopathology lab, renovation of Student hostels, staff and student welfare package for Ramadan 1444 AH, the commemoration of International Women’s Day with an international workshop in gender mainstreaming, initiation of MOU with Trends in Africa with an expected donation of over N240 million science equipment and others.
She expressed appreciation to the Proprietor of Fountain University, NASFAT for the establishment of the University and the support given to the institution so far.
Daily Independent