By: Opeyemi Olawore
Mr. Sunday Adeniyi Fehintola was the immediate past Registrar and the Secretary to the Governing Council of Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology (OYSCATECH), Igboora.
On this day, August 7, 2020 marks his 65th birthday and retirement from active service. It is a double celebration for him as an outstanding and successful administrator who rose to the top echelon of his career.
One cannot but felicitate with this enigma, a father and grandfather who distinguished himself in his chosen career and was privileged to work directly with three Vice Chancellors namely; the Late Prof. A. M. Salau, Prof. B.B. Adeleke and Prof. M.L. Nassar at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso as well as Prof. Gbemiga Adewale, immediate past Rector, the Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora.
Mr. Adeniyi Fehintola is one of such individuals that can never be forgotten in the history of Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora as he was among the pre-establishment committee that worked towards the emergence of the fourteen year old Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora.
The committee worked round the clock even into the dead of the nights before we could have this great citadel of learning called OYSCATECH, Igboora. The products of the institution who are doing the institution proud and the successes that the institution has recorded in terms of technological and agricultural advancement are living testimonies of the notable icons who worked towards the establishment and sustenance of Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora.
Niyi Fehintola was the second substantive Registrar of Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora.
Upon the assumption of duty of Mr. Niyi Fehintola at the Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora in 2014, he embarked on the re-organization of the registry by turning the various units that exist within the registry to divisions. He also created a new division known as general administration.
Having realized the need for a broad based decision making system, Mr. Niyi Fehintola created two fora namely Registrar’s forum and Administrative Officers Forum. The registrar’s forum is made up of senior registry staff from the registrar’s cadre up to the Deputy Registrar’s cadre, while the administrative officer’s forum houses growing Administrators.
The retiring Registrar is notable for his mastery of language, doggedness and dedication to duty. Mr. Fehintola is known for his commitment to training and re-training of young administrators. Little wonder why the Administrative Officers forum usually witness training sessions where papers are presented and critiqued.
As an experienced Administrator, Mr. Niyi Fehintola would forever be remembered for his meekness, cool headedness and team spirited. He had received praises from his fellow principal officers for his maturity and understanding in handling matters which made their tenure to be peaceful.
Mr. Sunday Adeniyi Fehintola was born on 7th August, 1955 into the family of Late Pa Amos Afodunrinbi Ayiki Fehintola and Late Mrs Racheal Adeaga Fehintola of Oje-Owode, Saki East Local Government area of Oyo State.
Mr Niyi Fehintola started his primary Education in 1963 at Baptist Primary School, Oje Owode and had his Secondary Education at Local Authority Secondary Modern School and Baptist High School, Saki between 1971 and 1975 respectively.
In his quest for higher academic attainment, Mr Niyi Fehintola proceeded to the then University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife between 1975 and 1977 where he bagged Bachelor of Arts, (Education) in history in 1981.
In 1985, Mr. Niyi Fehintola applied for his post graduate studies at the University of Ilorin and obtained Masters of Education in Educational Management.
Mr. Niyi Fehintola started his career during his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Scheme where he served as a class teacher at Federal Government College, Wukari, former Gongola State between 1981 and 1982. After the completion of the National Youth Service Scheme, he took up the work of a class teacher at Oje Grammar School, Oje-Owode between 1982 and 1985. At the Satellite Campus of the Polytechnic, Ibadan, Saki, Mr. Fehintola took up a lecturing job between 1985 and 1989, impacting the younger generation.
As a certified Educational Administrator, Mr. Niyi Fehintola joined the services of Federal College of Education (Technical), Bichi in 1989 where he served in various capacities at the Registry. First, he worked as an Assistant Registrar (Academic Affairs).
In 1991, Mr. Niyi Fehintola rose to become, Senior Assistant Registrar wherein he served as an Acting Registrar at the Federal College of Education (Technical) Bichi between 1991 and 1992.
Going by his dedication and handwork in the discharge of his responsibilities, as the Acting Registrar, Mr. Niyi Fehintola served as acting Secretary to the College Management Committee.
In February, 1993, Mr. Niyi Fehintola became a Principal Assistant Registrar. This singular opportunity gave him the privilege of becoming the immediate Principal Officer to the Registrar.
In 1996, Mr. Niyi Fehintola was promoted to the post of Deputy Registrar. By and large, Mr. Niyi Fehintola was never found wanting in his responsibilities. Mr. Niyi Fehintola served as Secretary, National Planning Committee and Chairman, Local Organizing Committee for the 5th National Conference of Registrars of Colleges of Education in Nigeria, Secretary, College Loans Committee, Students Affairs Advisory Committee, among others.
Between 1998 and 1999, he became the Officer overseeing the Registry. After the appointment of Registrar for the College, he continued to discharge his duty as the Deputy Registrar, Students Affairs spanning through 1999 and 2002.
In July, 2002, Mr Niyi Fehintola joined the services of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, from where he was posted to the office of the Vice Chancellor as Deputy Registrar to assist the Vice Chancellor in his duties as the Chief Executive of the University.
At the Ladoke Akintola University, Mr Niyi Fehintola also served as College Secretary, College of Health Sciences, Deputy Registrar, Head of Personnel Unit and Deputy Registrar Academic Affairs Unit. Discharging his responsibilities without fear or favour.
Between July 2010 and 14th March 2011, Mr Niyi Fehintola was appointed as the Acting Registrar for the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso.
Mr. Niyi Fehintola later became the substantive Registrar in March 2011 but the appointment was truncated due to political dispensation between owner states on the 27th July, 2011.
By and large, Mr. Niyi Fehintola gave his best to the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso. His commitment and dedication did not go unrecognized. He was appointed as a member Pre-establishment Committee of the Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology in 2006 and in August 2014 he was appointed as the Registrar for the Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, (OYSCATECH), Igboora.
Mr. Niyi Fehintola as an astute and professional Administrator has brought professionalism to bear at the registry of the Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora.
At the Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora, Mr Niyi Fehintola served as the Secretary to the Governing Council and its statutory Committees, Secretary, Board of Studies, Member, College Management Committee, Chairman, Junior Staff Committee, Head of Registry, Chairman, Administrative Officers Forum and a host of others.
Mr. Niyi Fehintola did not stop rendering community services to the various organizations. Some of the groups and communities where he was privileged to serve include:
Ag. Chairman, LAUTECH ANUPA 2007-2010, Member, Meeting of Registrars and Bursars of Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria on the Implementation of the Approved Blue Print for the revitalized Federal Government Scholarship Award Scheme in Abuja 30th – 1st September, 2004 and Member, Local Organizing Committee for 2008 AGM/National Conference of ANUPA holding at the University of Ilorin-November, 2008 and Chairman, Registry Committee on 2014 Convocation among others.
Mr. Niyi Fehintola is a Member of the Nigeria Institute of Management (NIM) and Association of Nigerian University Professional Administrators.
Mr. Niyi Fehintola has won several awards to his credit, they include; Award Winner for Outstanding Community Development during the first Oje Day, January 29, 2000, recognition for National Service as Ag. Secretary, FCT BICHI 2nd Governing Council, Long Service Award, and Certificate of Merit by Baptist Student Fellowship, (FCET Bichi) and Certificate of Merit Award by Federation of Oyo State Students Union, FCET Bichi.
Mr. Niyi Fehintola loves writing, Reading and photography.
Mr. Niyi Fehintola is married and the marriage is blessed with wonderful children.
Mr. Niyi Fehintola could be described as an historian, professional Administrator, a seasoned chief scribe and distinguished human resource manager whose wealth of experience has touched lives of Students, Staff of various institutions where he served and his immediate communities.
As Mr. Niyi Fehintola turns 65 and bows out of active service, we pray God to grant him good health, strength, long life and greater blessings as he observes rest because, rest they say is sweet.
On behalf of the Governing Council, Management, Board of Studies, Staff, Students and Alumni of Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora, I wish my exemplary Boss, Happy Birthday and Happy Retirement.
Opeyemi Olawore is the Public Relations Officer of the Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology (OYSCATECH), Igboora.
