By Edwin Philip
Professional University administrators in Nigerian Universities are gearing up to update their knowledge in their areas of specialities in pursuit of operational efficiency, equipped with relevant skills, ethical grounding with the right attitude to perform optimally.
Addressing participants in a workshop for junior University Professional Administrators (ANUPA) from over 13 Universities across States and Federal Universities in the country, Dr. Victor Mkuma Bem, the President of the Association of Nigerian University Administrators, said they will returned to their various Universities better equipped to contribute meaningfully to their institutions goals, improve workflow, processes and strengthen the administrative support system.
“Today is very significant in the life of universities in Nigeria. We are here to train ANUPA members to go back and give feedback to the various universities for more efficient performances, this particular one is for the junior who are the most fundamental or foundational staff of the university, want to upskill their task so the event is very, very significant at the end of the workshop” he said.
According to him, ANUPA is committed to the continuous development of professional Administrators at all levels through strategic training initiative such as it the training workshop.
“We want to refresh their memories, refresh their skills, I will always advise our members to take every opportunity they get seriously so that they get better upskilled, the issue is that in this present world, things change rapidly, administrative strategies change rapidly. They need to reposition themselves to be able to cope” she added.
He commended the Bingham University located along Keffi Abuja Express way, Kodope, Nasarawa State for hosting the administrators and their commitment to the growth of administrative capacity in the Nigerian University system.
In his opening remark, the Vice Chancellor of Bingham University, Prof. Haruna Kuje Ayuba, said the theme of the training workshop which is ” Effective Administrative Practices for Enhanced Productivity is the University” is very timely, as it emphasizes the importance of adopting efficient and innovative administrative strategies to improve overall productivity and challenges.
“You need to focus attention on how to streamline processes and procedures to ensure ease of doing business in the university, leverage technology to improve operations and productivity, admissions, registration, hostels allocation, examination, etc and foster a collaborative work environment devoid of rancour, sentiment and competition ” he said.
On her part, the National Public Relations Relations Officer of ANUPA Oyinye Ralp-Nwachukwu, said the training workshop is put together to ensure that administrators who are working in Nigerian Universities are always updated about what is the current trends, to improve in their administrative service, to ensure that they are also tech savvy, to know what is expected of them and do it with all all of the knowledge and experience they have gotten, they have been exposed to a lot of training to they can learn, relearn several things.
Lectures were given by seasoned University Profession Administrators on fundamentals and analysis of University Laws, Regulations and conventions, by Dr. Lami Tamine, the Director Unijos Consultantancy Services Ltd, another on the Effective Communication and Interpersonal Skills for Administrators was given by Mr Joseph Akin Adenije, Deputy Registrar, Directorate of Continuing Education Programes, Ekiti State University, while Mr Uchenna Kenneth Ekemezie, deputy Registrar Examinations, Records and Administrative Data processing (ERA) Division, University of Ibadan.
Anthony Chinwuko from Nnandi Azikiwe University, Awka, Okolo Ekemema from Denis Osadebey University, Asaba, Makyo Onje Gye-Wado, Nasarawa State University, Keffi and Mrs Ndagilay Yakubu from University of Maduguri , said the workshop is a refining and defining moment for them.